With Christmas less than a week away, I was remembering one of my favorite Christmases.
The first Christmas I spent away from my family was also my first Christmas of walking with the Lord. I was living in Needham, Massachusetts. Having grown up in the deep south, my assignment to Boston out of college couldn’t have been more exotic if it’d been Mars.
I had arrived in early October. The beauty of the colored leaves intoxicated me. I loved the quaint town with its mixture of Victorian houses and small clapboard homes. The locals’ accents fascinated me. One student, named Barbara O’Conner, introduced herself as “Barba-er O’Conna.”
The ministry team I joined was made up of seven young single men and women. We quickly became fast friends.
I’d planned to return home for Christmas. But our national director had other plans. He asked everyone to remain at his or her assignment to prepare for the conference that would begin the day after Christmas.
The Lord had prepared my heart for this change in plans. I was actually excited to experience a New England Christmas. Since Boston winters were much colder than Savannah winters, I wanted the perks of a New England Christmas. I asked the Lord for a white Christmas.
Boston natives groaned at my desire. “We don’t want to travel in snow,” they said. So I asked the Lord to let my friends get safely on their way and then bring snow.
Christmas Eve arrived and there was no sign of snow. The guys on our team came over to our house, and we laughed late into the night. At 2 a.m. I climbed into bed. There was still no sign of snow.
Christmas morning my housemate Candi padded into my bedroom and wished me a Merry Christmas. “You want to see our white Christmas?” I joked.
I lifted the shade and gasped. Six inches of marshmallow cream glistened in the morning sun—a living Christmas card.
We squealed and rushed to dress. The guys showed up with sleds, and we romped like kids.
I baked my first turkey that Christmas. A widow joined us for dinner. In the evening we gathered in our small living room and thanked God for His Christmas gift of Jesus and for His forever family.
Instead of feeling homesick being hundreds of miles away from friends and family, I felt full and loved. God had not only granted the desires of my heart, He’d protected my friends’ travel.
Perhaps not having expectations for that year freed me to recognize and enjoy the treasures that matter most. And God granting me a perfect white Christmas reminded me that He knows and cares about our heart’s desires.
Those who've received God's gift of His Son have all they'll ever need for Christmas. Share on XHe who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV)
Question: Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?
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May God grant you a most joyful Christmas,
Debbie W. Wilson
Sometimes I link up with these great sites:
#Recharge Wednesday, #Writer’s Wednesday, #TuneinThursaday, #Dance with Jesus, #Grace and Truth, #Fresh Market Friday,
Photos by Nathan Walker on Unsplash and Ian Schneider on Unsplash
What a beautiful story Debbie! While I am a NY native and only lived in TN for 5 years when we were first married, I pray for snow well after Christmas so I know all my kids will have already traveled to in-laws and then home and are safe. I love everything about Christmas and as this is the first year my grandson will sort of understand a little (15 months old) I am so looking forward to his excitement. I wish you and your family a truly beautiful and blessed Christmas!
Ann, I understand your sentiment on snow. When it was still snowing at Easter it had lost its charm! But there is nothing like the first fresh snow. I know it will be a special time with you grandson. Young children bring wonder to the season. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I appreciate you!
Love this story, my friend! So much fun to hear about this memory! Have a blessed Christmas this year….even if you don’t have the snowy Boston one you shared about here.
Thank you, Pam. You are dear. May God bless you and your family this this Christmas and always!
I’m from Atlanta, we hardly ever have snow but it causes havoc when we do like a couple of weeks ago. The beauty of it is remarkable, it is as I told a blogger friend like manna from heaven, thank God for Jesus, the true bread of heaven. There is a little Christmas memory in all of them, but every years should be the best one. Merry Christmas!
Yes! Thank you, Rebecca. I hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas too!
Such a beautiful story Debbie. As a child, I lived in Germany and Iowa, so I’ve had my fill of snow. Living in Texas now, it is not something I miss at all. However, there is something magical about a white Christmas. That being said, those moments of when”God with us”, are fully revealed is truly something special. I’m thankful for a Savior that hears us when we seek Him. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story Debbie. May God continue to shower you and yours with His blessings in the New Year.
Horace, I went on to spend many winters in cold weather so snow doesn’t have the same appeal it used to. But a good first snow still feels magical and brings many happy memories. Now that I”m farther south, snow stops everything. We don’t have the snowplows to handle it. But like you mentioned, I never grow tired of experiencing those moment when I know Jesus is showing up as being especially near.
Catching up on my reading after Christmas and I loved this story. 🙂
Love this❤️ It’s so true. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Renée. I see since I couldn’t check my blog before it went out I had the link to the comments go to different blog!
Thank you Debbie. I have been taunted by fear for over a decade due to chronic illness.
I am determined now, thanks to Him, to choose faith over fear, consistently.
Repent of the habit of fear. Live free, moment by moment.
Good for you Karen! It’s a choice we have to make every day, moment by moment. And that choice changes us.
I really do get the “when…then” conundrum! I think we all get a bit of that virus from time to time….especially if we over think things or are prone to anxiety about getting it all “right” all the time.
I love the vulnerable development of the topic today and you are surely right back there again on this computer thing. Not sure what computer you are using, but I had a lot of issues when I was using a PC. I got a MacBook Pro about three years ago and it has been a dream in comparison!
Take care, my friend! Love and hugs!
Thank you, Pam. It is a Mac book pro. Just crazy the domino effect of what happened. I left it at Apple and they’ll call me. At least this time I have many back-ups so hopefully it will be restored without issue.
Very, very good! I have done the same thing, but had not realized why or the process. Over the last few years (as the years add up), I have learned to trust God more and not worry about the “what ifs” of the future, but to just rest in Him – trusting Him. But, I had not been able to put it in the concise words you did. THANK YOU!