Significant Ornaments: Island Life

My husband's work assignment transported us to Trinidad and Tobago, a two-islands nation located off the northeast coast of Venezuela. We traded our "life in the suburbs" comfort for the land where the steel pan originated.

Days after arriving in Trinidad, the earth shook under our feet. Our first (and not the last) earthquake. What was I doing here? Surely, the Lord did not bring me here to kill me. At the end of that stress filled day, Creator God provided a glorious sunset!

We desired to experience as much as possible.  We marveled the leatherback turtles nesting at Grand Riviere, and the scarlet ibises (the national bird of T&T) roosting in the deep green mangroves of Caroni Swamp. We sipped coconut water out of its shell. We savored doubles (two flat pieces of fried bread filled with curried chickpeas), and shark & bake. I learned to play "Amazing Grace," and "The Entertainer" on the steel pan.

New things, life-changing things, were born. I started my first blog - Callaloo Tales: Our Adventures in the Caribbean and Beyond. I planted a "Praying Grandmothers" group.

We're grateful for the opportunity to live among the expats and the locals and experience different cultures.  The friends we made touched our lives forever, and we will never be the same. 


For our 2006 significant ornament, I purchased a Trinidad-shaped souvenir key chain, and tied red, green, and gold Christmas ribbon around it.


My Trinidadian friend, Lee, gave me the "palm tree" pottery ornament when we repatriated in 2008.

What special ornaments hang on your Christmas tree?































Out of the Fire...

Something explosive cracked above our heads. As my husband investigated, neighbors rushed to our front door, informing me our house was on fire. Lightning hit the roof, and the attic burned. Volunteer fire fighters rushed to the scene. Dale and I stood watching in disbelief. Thankfully, the blaze was extinguished and no one suffered injuries.

 

Displaced for five and a half months during reconstruction gave us a new appreciation for home and for the fire fighters who risked their lives to save it.

 

That experience of loss and rebuilding led us to begin a new Christmas tradition - the significant ornament - to symbolize the most meaningful event of that particular year. I purchased a panda fire fighter ornament. It was 1997. Years later, we have a box full of special tree ornaments- each with a story.





 As I pull each significant ornament out of its storage, I remember the stories. As the fire fighting panda is unwrapped and hung, I whisper a prayer for first responders.

Thank you, Lord, for brave men and women who risk their lives to protect people and property in crisis times. Bless them with wisdom, strength, and courage. Protect them from harm and injury. Protect their families. Meet their every physical, emotional, and spiritual need. Comfort those who mourn loved ones lost in the line of duty. In the Name of Jesus, who gives life and peace...amen.

Christmas Wishes



Our oldest granddaughter emailed us her "Christmas Wish List". She requested a butterfly net and book, a doll, clip-on earrings, a purse, and all things sparkly- shoes, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hair clips, lip gloss and powder. And then, there's my favorite- "a beautiful princess dress that reaches to my ankles".

 

I hope she gets it all! But I do have my own wish list for Joy:

 

My prayer is that like the shepherds, she will hurry to the Christ child, like the wise men she will seek Him, like the angels she will praise Him, and like His Father she will love Him. I pray she will believe Him and make room for Him in her life. May she live "happily-ever-after" with the Lover of her soul and Prince of Peace... Jesus the Messiah.

 

My wish for her is my wish for you as well. Christmas blessings to you and yours!

 

 

What are your Christmas wishes?

Jesus in Me

 

Humans inherit familial features, such as Grandma Joan's curly hair,  Papa Joe's brown eyes, or Uncle Henry's pointed nose. These features remind us of particular relatives. Who do you resemble? Who do people see in you?

 

Jesus Christ - Immanuel - became flesh and came to live among us (John 1:14). Sharing in our humanity, He experienced hunger, grief, pain, sorrow, loneliness, disappointment, and death. Jesus, God Incarnate, was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet lived a sinless life. Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God (1 Peter 3: 18). Buried and raised from the dead, He gives His Spirit to live in us (John 14: 16-17).

 

Apostle Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2: 20). Paul exhorts believers to put to death evil practices, and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (Col. 3: 5-10). Meditate on Colossians 3: 1-17. What do you need to put away, and what will you put on, so that others can more clearly see Jesus in you?

 

This Christmas season, may Immanuel - God with us - be seen in you and me. More than a clean and orderly house, may others see a pure heart. More than tree ornaments and lights, let them see the light and love of Jesus. More than cookies and candy, may they taste and see the Lord is good!