If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.“ 1 Peter 4:11

How many of you have already put up your Christmas tree?

Lilly’s roommate Lael is from the Philippines, where they decorate for Christmas in September!! We wanted her to feel at home, so we drug out all of our Christmas boxes the day after Thanksgiving. It is the first time that we have had Christmas in this house, since we moved here January 1st. Finding a new home for every decoration was an adventure, and it was a wonder-filled experience for the youngest children. Our tree is so tall that they were sitting on the shoulders of my son-in-law to adorn the upper branches of the tree!

Last Sunday the pastor talked about shining our lights (God’s light) into dark places. Melody sat on Dad’s lap and was mesmerized by the baby in front of us. “Mommie, she’s sooooo CUTE!” she whispered in delight. I admit to snapping a picture or two. I wanted to save the moment they were shining their little lights.

We came home to share a spaghetti dinner. Melody sits next to me, and in the middle of eating she said to me, “Momma, I want to be an ornament.”

“Why do you want to be an ornament?” I asked, but she shrugged her shoulders and shyly looked away. “What kind of ornament do you want to be?”

She pursed her lips. “A Christmas ornament,” she answered.

I looked around at all the new ornaments we had just brought out, and all of the shining lights. “What is it that you like about Christmas ornaments?” I probed.

“They’re sparkly,” she smiled.

“Ohhh,” I thought she looked sparkly too. “The Bible says you are an ornament,” I told her, wondering how she would react. She just smiled. “When we hang ornaments on the tree, we are adorning the tree to make it look beautiful. The Bible says that when you live your life for Christ, you adorn the gospel. People see the wonderful character of Christ in your life and it makes God’s word beautiful to them. Then they will want to know Jesus too.”

She glowed as she nodded her head in agreement. “See,” I repeated, “you are an ornament.”

A few minutes later I heard her little voice pipe up again, “I’m glad that I can be an ornament.”

Proud mom moment. “So am I.”

“Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” Titus 2:10

Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay. All other photos are family property.