Another Shoe Drops - 511
by Sharon L. Reidenbach
Full of Christmas Surprises
Packages, decorated cookies, hot mulled cider: It
must be Christmas!
And what wide-eyed child doesn’t shake, and listen
to every package in
anticipation of the big day. But my husband and I
didn’t have to wait
for Christmas for our presents.
In another article I shared how we had to move
permanently from our
newly decorated condo due to an offensive,
unexplained odor. But what
we didn’t expect were the gifts that came from the
upheaval!
At first, our packages were hidden by our grief.
We didn’t see the
bright colored boxes with the bows of friends who
encouraged us. Nor
were the aromas of fresh baked cookies, and hot
mulled cider allowed
to penetrate through: new neighbors, finding a
nice location, and a
great condo.
As the shock of displacement, and not
understanding why waned, we
started noticing our surprises. But we had to
accept them as from the
Lord, trusting His redirection. Like a child on
Christmas morning, we
couldn’t unwrap our gifts fast enough.
Then the next shoe dropped with a thud! I’d
learned an on-going
disease is here to stay. To live successfully
meant good monitoring,
and life style changes. For a first born, type A
personality, not good
news. Again, shimmering paper, and smells of
comforting spices from
three tiny packages went unnoticed. Why? I
confess. With both of
these unexpected changes, and disappointments,
(moving and my health),
to complain, to moan and to groan seemed
qualified: Satan’s trap? A
down cast spirit.
Why do we forget Satan’s defeat began at the
manager with its finality
culminating at the cross and the resurrection? Why
do we live like
paupers spouting: “Oh, what shall we do? How will
we handle this?” If
we are in Christ, we have victory! It’s time to
claim it, and send
Satan packing! As it says in I Corinthians 15: 57,
But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord,
Jesus Christ (NKJV).
Ashamed, I asked God’s forgiveness and discovered
my three packages
begging my attention. The first surprise assured
me of who I am! “ I
have called you by name; you are Mine.”
The second gave me the strength not to give up. I
wasn’t alone: When
you pass through the waters I will be with you;
And through the
rivers, they shall not overflow you.
The third let me know it wouldn’t be easy, but in
Christ, Satan had no
hold on me. God promised: When you walk through
the fire, you shall
not be burned. Nor shall the flames scorch you.
For I am the Lord Your
God (Isaiah 43 1-3).
This Christmas when unexpected changes, illness
or setbacks raise
their ugly heads, may we see lurking behind them
the victorious
gleaming gifts, and the fragrant aromas heard from
God’s heart: “I do
not ask you, [your name] to understand. Hold my
hand. Let go. I’ve
won. Claim the victory with Me. I’ll never leave
you. You are Mine.”
Merry Christmas ~ Sharon
|