Scatter the flowers

  Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst "The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth - the very thing the whole story has been about. " ~ C.S. Lewis You probably have heard the Christmas story in some degree, hopefully more than from Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" when you were younger.  Please consider, as you read, each part of this incredible story and capture the astonishment of the miracles it contains.  I found some amazing paintings depicting different parts of it that I wanted to share with you.   Jesus' birth was foretold to Mary by an angel. "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David..  And the virgin's name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" (Luke 1:26-28)    "And the angel said to her, :"Do not be af...

  Interesting Conversation, Federico Zandomeneghi, 1895 (Christie's)   "There's a lot of difference between listening and hearing." ~ G.K.  Chesterton 🎵 I love this season - it offers so many opportunities to interact with people on different levels.  For those people we see everyday, it gives us a chance to let them know how much they are appreciated.   🎵Some we see once a year, and it gives us a chance to reconnect. 🎵  Some we've never seen before and might not even meet, but it gives us the privilege of donating so they might enjoy a better Christmas. Muppet Christmas Carol 🎵All of these encounters provide us with an opportunity - to listen.  Sure, I can be the queen of talking to every person in the room on a superficial level, sprinkled under the guise of humor or service, walking away not knowing one real thing about that person.   But is that what Jesus wants of me?  Is that what He did?  Jesus not only listene...

  So "Do you like my hat?" ~ Dr. Seuss- from  Go, Dog, Go! 🐕 Did you hear the unbelievably brave story of the farm dog named Casper who fought off 11 coyotes while guarding a flock of sheep?  He recovered and is back at work, winning an award of a year of free dog food and $5000!  Hope he gets a comfy new bed! Conan, a special forces dog, chased a dangerous ISIS leader  down a dead end  tunnel, resulting in the man's capture.    🐕 Scientists have evidence that monks kept St. Bernards in the Swiss Alps, who helped rescue people stranded after snowstorms because of their 'uncanny sense of direction and resistance to cold.'  One specific dog is memorialized in a museum in Switzerland because of the lives he saved. A Louisiana dog rescued from Hurricane Katrina as a pup helped carry  buckets of water to people who had none after Hurricane Sandy. 🐕 A 2-year old was missing for 4 hours but his family's faithful Australian Shepherd sta...

  A Charlie Brown Christmas "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" ~ Charlie Brown, a Charlie Brown Christmas Have you ever felt like nothing you do is right?  You might be trying so hard and no one sees it, or even slows down enough to acknowledge your efforts, or worse yet, criticizes you?  I just got done watching " A Charlie Brown Christmas " with my grandkids (and I may or may not have watched it once more without them).  Made in 1965, this is the same movie I saw when I was growing up.    If you haven't watched it lately, you should.   Of course as a child I didn't really see that Charlie Brown has some really deep, thought-provoking questions about how people are celebrating Christmas and, while his intentions are good, no one sees it.  And he gets depressed.  I can certainly relate to that, can't you?  So, in a beautiful joyous season where he sees all the festivities, he still is sad inside.  No...