ANGRY Reindeer!

There are lots of phrases that when spoken bring Christmas straight to the front of our thoughts. Pictures do the same whether it be a nativity or Santa. Most times they bring smiles, but if we're honest (and I try always to be honest - many times to my detriment) we've got a whole lot of Scrooge's "baah! humbug!" within us.

I receive some very sweet gifts from my piano students. You've already seen the jingle bell socks and I've not posted about the Hickory Farms gift or the "bag o' girl stuff" that was awesome. But this is a picture of a very sweetly made clay pot. I say "sweetly" because the child who made it is sweet to the nth degree. She's little and smart and cute and, well, just all things a little girl should be. I hadn't paid much attention to it until just now. It was then that I noticed that maybe it was a reindeer that belonged in Sean's room because it's an angry reindeer. That's not to say that Sean is an angry person, but he is young and you know how anger/angst filled people his age can be. I thought about getting a photo of him holding the clay pot while he was wearing his Krampus t-shirt, but he's not apt to cooperate, probably because of his anger/angst.

That all brought me to this:

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

I get cranky with crowds. And, if you throw in a rude cashier, oh-my-goodness, I lose all sense of decorum. That says a lot for a Southern girl brought up to be mannerly no matter what. This angry looking reindeer reminded me that all the parts of Christmas that are sweet and fun and filled with memories - Santa, reindeer, gifts, food, shopping, etc - are also the parts that lend to the troubles that come with Christmas. We invite them into our lives while somehow trying to celebrate the peaceful tender joy (and excitement) of the Savior coming into our very own neighborhood...if we'll just let him.

This little reindeer clay pot just became more important to me because it will forevermore remind me of the true reason for Christmas. Thank you sweet Sophia and Olivia. Jesus used you in my life today through this little clay pot!