The Gift That Keeps on Giving

December 2013

We were robbed this Christmas! I was at work and we had a Christmas Party after work, so Toby just met me at the party.  We were gone maybe 2 hours, but when we got home we had been robbed. It wasn't obvious when we first got home.  No broken doors, no broken glass, but the back porch light didn't work and had been on when Toby left, and when I went to take off my jewelry and put it on my dresser that's when I noticed it.  All the jewelry that had been on my dresser had been taken.  All my rings, the necklaces that I had left out, and some earrings.  We got to looking around and my new tennis shoes that I had bought for Toby to give me for Christmas was missing, an coat of mine, a back pack and some change. A few pieces of the jewelry had very little monetary value, but had so much sentimental value, that it really devastated me. 

As the weeks have progressed, we have noticed other things missing.  I had bought Toby a pair of pants and a shirt for Christmas, they took the shirt and left the pants (must not have been their size), a bottle of cologne that Ashley had bought for Austin, and all of Amber's Christmas presents.  I started referring to our robbery as "the gift that keeps on giving", because it seemed like every time we turned around something else was missing.

I was so furious!  I was upset, angry and very depressed.  It seemed like this was going to be the worst Christmas ever.  We had been robbed, Amber wasn't going to be able to come home, it's Austin's last Christmas at home and Toby and I were both really busy at work.  I was tired, frustrated, felt violated and just plain angry! I had no Christmas Spirit, none! I kept reminding myself that it wasn't about me, it's about Jesus, about His birth, about Him coming to save me, but to be totally honest, I didn't feel it. To make things worse, I was on the verge of tears all the time.  If anyone said anything to me nice, mean, thoughtless, consoling, whatever, it didn't matter, I would tear up and cry.

Someone else who had been robbed told me they were praying for the person who had robbed them, hoping that they would find their way to Christ, I told them, I was praying that the cross necklace that they had stolen would burn their chest straight to their heart! Not very Christian of me was it?

God is so good though isn't He?  He took all that and used it to show me His glory and love.
We received notes, calls, gifts, hugs, and so much more from so many people.  Some gifts were so thoughtful, that I once again cried, this time because I was just so overwhelmed with the love God's people had shone and are still showing. God's love is so powerful, and I guess all I needed was a reminder of it. 

This Bible story keeps coming to me from Matthew 8. "Jesus got into a boat, and His followers went with Him. A great storm arose on the lake so that waves covered the boat, but Jesus was sleeping. His followers went to Him and woke Him, saying "Lord, save us! We will drown!" Jesus answered. "Why are you afraid?  You don't have enough faith." Then Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm. The men were amazed and said, "What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" That's how I felt. I was afraid, felt like I was drowning, didn't have enough faith.  Jesus spoke, He spoke through His people, He spoke through His word and He spoke through His birth. 

So what did I receive for Christmas this year?  "The gift that keeps on giving," and I am so blessed by it.   

"Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see...Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles." Maltie D. Babcock

             

Amber

My Dearest Amber,

I didn’t know what to give you for your birthday.  You really don’t need anything, and what you do have is in storage, so I decided that since you are a lover of writing, I would give you the gift of words that tell you how special you are.

From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew my life would never be the same.  You were so tiny and beautiful and you were born right on your due date.  I guess that was a sign that would later transform itself into the way you always like to be on time, or ahead of time.

You were the most precious little girl, so beautiful, sweet and very shy. Hard to believe that now isn’t it?  When Austin came along, you were the best big sister and helper.  You always wanted to hold him.  You were very protective of him and still are today.  I love the bond you two have between you and how special that is.  It is something that you will both need as life progresses and we, as your parents get older.  Bless you both with that!!!

As a teenager, you went to the beat of your own drum quite a bit, which caused you some very lonely times.  I was always proud of you for taking stands that no one else would or championing the people others didn’t.  It caused you at times a lot of heartache, but in the long run, made you into the person you are today.  Of course, you and I had our challenges, my goodness did we fight!! Thank goodness we both outgrew that!  Well, sort ‘of.

Today, you are truly your own person.  You still walk to the beat of your own drum.  You have done so much and experienced so much in your young life.  Who would have ever thought that shy little girl would grow up to be a world traveler, an outspoken writer, and a very devout friend.  

I am so proud of the young women you have become.

Prayers I have for you…

            I pray you would be able to find a career that really fulfills your potential.

            I pray you would always find laughter.  It will truly get you through moments

        that are too hard otherwise.

I pray you will have many, many more adventures!

I pray you would find a home of your own, a place that would be your retreat.

I pray that you would find the peace and forgiveness you need for the wrongs

       done by churches so you would find your way back to church.

I pray you would find the peace that only comes with acceptance of your life.

I pray that God will always be a major part of your life and guide and protect

            you throughout your life.

I pray that you and Austin will always be close.  
           You will need each other.

I pray you would be happy, truly happy in your life.

Amber, I am so proud of you and so very blessed to have you as my daughter and my friend.

I love you
Mom