Moments of Wonder and Traces of Mama

It’s early morning on Christmas eve.  It’s very quiet and peaceful with the Christmas tree in its beautiful shades of red, yellow, blue and green lights and yards of ribbons as my only light (okay, there is the glow from my laptop monitor but somehow that doesn’t scream Christmas). Sweet Gracie is curled up next to me soft and warm with red polka dot bows in her ears. Harry Connick is singing It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.  And even though our Christmas’ have scaled way down from the way they use to be I’d still have to say I agree with Harry.  I love this time of the year.

 

This is the season that though the hustle and bustle the noise and the traffic you can still find moments that leave you shaking your head in wonder.  I experienced one of those times yesterday.  I had dropped Gracie off to be groomed in Republic and had several errands to run before picking her up so I grabbed a cup of coffee and began.  First I had to make a return at Kohls (now, for the record…nobody in their right mind would get anywhere near the area of the Wal-Mart super center and Kohls parking lot two days before Christmas!), then on to Hobby Lobby (see note on Kohls and multiply it by 50!!) to pick up a skein of yarn before rushing to All Pet Supply to make sure a certain Diva Dog had a present. Lastly, I needed to run to the grocery store but it was time to pick up said dog so back to Republic I went then by the house to drop her off because she was tired 

(spa day will exhaust a girl!!).  

I ran in to grab another cup of coffee then back out to get groceries.  Against my better judgement I went to the Walmart Neighborhood Mkt.  Normally, I would never go there because they never, ever have what you need (I mean seriously, who doesn't have red and green sprinkles on December 23???) and they generally have three people standing shoulder to shoulder in an isle meant for two making it impossible to move on.  Such was the case in the cake mix isle when I met the eye of another woman standing on the other side of the 'oblivious three' who seemed intent on comparing the pros and cons of Instant Pudding versus Cook & Serve so I finally moved one of their carts (I’m certain the owner didn’t even notice) and made a path for the lady and I to move through, as she passed she gave me a warm but tired smile and said “Thank you.  I have so much to get done.” So we went on our way and when I got to the register this same woman was just ahead of me and we shared another smile and then I went on catching up on Brad and Angelina and the Kardashians ( you know you do the same thing as you stand in the checkout line!!) In a few minutes I was being checked out and as I started to swipe my debit card the cashier said put your card away, the woman who just walked out paid for your groceries. 

Excuse me?? She paid for my groceries?

(and just for the record, it was over $50.00).  I was speechless and she had disappeared.  All I could think of was “GOD, that was YOU wanting to get my attention.  Well, YOU succeeded!! Please bless that beautiful lady in a way she can’t even imagine.” That was a true moment of wonder.

I came home still feeling the glow of gratitude not only for the blessing of the groceries but more for the fact that the Creator of the Universe, the ONE true GOD, the Great I AM reached down to me in the middle of a very hectic and busy Walmart just to say, I love you, MY daughter. 

Wow! 

I then started cooking for Christmas eve dinner and of course that involved trashing my kitchen which always makes me think of Mama Charley.  How I miss the kitchen chaos when that amazing woman would cook with me (somehow it was always in my kitchen and more often then not involved my Kitchen Aid mixer and a cup of cocoa or powdered sugar or mashed potatoes). I miss hearing her laugh and seeing the childlike wonder in her twinkling eyes.  

But then I stopped and looked around me…and thought of a song my dear friend Judy Eddington wrote many years ago called Traces of JESUS.  About how we leave traces of JESUS all around us (such as my friend at Walmart left) and as I looked around I saw traces of Mama every where I looked. 

From the beautiful cross stitch stocking she made me the year before she moved on to Heaven

 to the fun snowman quilt that hangs on my wall every Christmas 

to the woolen table runner…

it all reminds me of the special lady i was blessed to call mom.

Every time I put out the nativity set I hear my daddy remind me “you know the wise men weren’t there until JESUS was a toddler!!”  Always the literal one!!

And the way we would always make sure he unwrapped any books until last otherwise he would immediately start reading it…out loud….loudly… So many memories surround us.

So in the next couple of days while we’re surrounded by family and friends and food and laughter we’ll also feel the spirit of those who are lucky enough to be in the presence of the ONE whose birthday we’re all celebrating!

Thank you JESUS for the moments of wonder and the traces of Mama.  

Happy birthday, sweet LORD,