Dec. 23- Christmas Grace

I did get my tree up. "Just so you know." ( Quote from Everybody Loves Raymond. Just so you know.)

No, actually, my tree-up day was amazing. Of course amazing as in filled with grace!

I was able to deliver an important gift in the morning, one of those gifts that is so perfect it seems hand picked by God, to one who is so deserving and appreciative that it makes giving a pure joy.

Then I had the rest of the day to: finish shopping for Christmas gifts, wrap 'em, find a tree, get lights on, decorate the tree, clean house, and bring baked item to Christmas program at church by 6:30.

I also played this game I like, called, "Make 'em smile." As I went, I said "Merry Christmas" to as many people as opportunity afforded. Seeing their smiles and return greetings is great. At one point when I jumped out of my car, a disgruntled lady was laying on her horn trying to get some people to move faster. Her window down, her face frowning, I went for it. I waved heartily and yelled, "Merry Christmas." It was delightful. Her look changed immediately from anger to confusion, to resignment, and then, the smile!"

"Merry Christmas, " she responded, grinning foolishly and shrugging her arms with a wave!

When I hit Costco, it was already 11 and I felt a little befuddled and tired. Lost my card, had to get another. Terrible, fuzzy picture. Oh well. Holding the card, I mumbled out a prayer. "Dear Lord, help me to use my time efficiently and get everything I need to done." Then I tried to focus on the 3 or 4 things I needed there. Driven by hunger, I quickly went around a few main aisles looking for a sample to munch on. Found it, then went to the lines.

Being the 23rd, the place was buzzing. But good ole' Costco was up for it, and had about 10 check stands open, each manned with a Checker and Bagger.( not a word?)

I picked one, plopped items on shelf, and went to pull out card.

Not there. Pocket? Nope. Wallet? Nope.

"Is this your card, " I hear a voice. I look up, and the Bagger was holding my card. "Yes, where did you get it?"

"It was over in produce, I found it on the ground."

" But...how did you know? You were here before me!"

" Yeah, and I just saw you looking so I thought it might be yours."

"This is a God- thing!"

And we marveled at the odds. Then I remembered my mumbled prayer and told them and thanked them and God.

Ran out the door, jumped in car and off to the tree lot. Walked in, and told the guy I needed a 5 foot tree, cheap. (Hey, it's for 1 week at this point, 2 if I milk it.)

Guy leads me to a tree, first one he picked is beautiful, "I'll take it. "

Paid him, then realized what had been a very long, painstaking process for me in the past had just been done in less that 5 minutes.

So, I told the guy my prayer and added. "What do you want prayer for, I'm on a roll!"

To which he smiled.

'NO, serious, really, it's not luck. I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and I'm so excited that He answers prayer and I really want to pray for you."

We had a great, but brief, conversation about his needs. I gave him some input, told him to watch what God would do, and how I would pray. It was really cool.

Then he says, "Where are you parked?"

"In the back."

"Bring your car around, I'll put it in for you."

I whipped the car around, he had me roll down a window, and I was off in no time. It was 6 feet but Ulisses managed. God bless you, Ulisses.

Home again, tree up and complete by 4, and I realized I had a plate of fudge leftover to take to the Church.

But one more Grace was poured out that day. In the middle of working on getting lights on my tree, I feel this small urge, a little voice saying, call your neighbors, invite them to Church.

"But I gotta get this done, "I argued. But I knew Whose voice it was. So I did. Almost 3, way too late, I thought. That night my neighbor sat next to me with her 3 children and mother-in-law. When it was over, she couldn't stop thanking me. The kids had a great time and her mother-in-law, who only spoke Spanish and cried through the service, kept thanking God and telling me thank you for the beautiful invitation.

THAT was a great Christmas day!