My Christmas Angels....

I started this “Christmas Memories” blog series last Thursday by sharing the kissing ball hung in center the Heidi Allen Remembrance garden, located at the intersection of State Route 104 and 104b in the town of New Haven. It was beautiful and brought hope and smiles to those passing by until the wind storm hit that very same evening. Although the kissing ball hung a day before the blog, its life was short lived. This symbol of hope was ripped to shreds by the Northeastern wind with only shrapnel of hope scattered about the yard surrounding the garden.

Meanwhile in my writer’s cottage I was struggling to upload the photos for Friday morning’s blog. The blog was written, edited, reread and uploaded only to sit without its supporting photos. So as not to be late I phoned my Dad, “HELP!” Neither of us could figure out the issue and determined it was with my Internet provider so until they finished their update (or whatever was going on) I would need to wait. With a heavy heart I arrived at work only to hear, “Lisa the kissing ball was destroyed by the wind.” It was the cherry on top of a rotten morning and all I could do was cry. I walked to my room, removed my coat as I prayed for the strength to endure this day and get out of the funk I was in.

The funk passed and I enjoyed our “Secret Santa” reveal and breakfast. My heart was heavy and I couldn’t shake the despair of this symbol hope being destroyed. I asked the woman who made it if she could make a new one but she was “...out of the boxwood”. With the checkbook at zero and a heavy heart, I prayed for God’s love, strength and provision. I apologized if the placing of the ball was selfish and thanked Him for the couple evenings of light in the garden.

THANKFULLY God is in control, not me. Over the weekend a Christmas wreath arrived at the store. It was beautiful and brought happy tears to my eyes. Thank you Jesus, right? No, there is more. God wasn’t done. Monday morning came and so did another kissing ball. A friend and colleague had asked the woman to make me another one and not tell me. (Sneaky, sneaky) More tears, but this time of joy and thanksgiving. As if this wasn’t enough, solar lights for each point of the star have appeared too. The garden is more beautiful this Friday than it was a week ago. Thank you my Christmas angels, you are messengers from God and you have brightened my Christmas ever so much.

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God is so amazing. I pray you experience His love for you first hand. Earlier this week I received a message from a friend, “I have something for you, give me a call.” Hmm…What is she up to? Come to find out the person behind this blessing was actually her son and she was the messenger. Well actually the entire family was in on it after they heard his idea. I’ve anxiously waited our getting together but if finally came today.

We met at Dunkin Donuts bright and early this a.m. for coffee, fellowship, and the big reveal. I was not prepared for the generosity and heart expressed through their gift. More happy tears flood my eyes as I read the card with Ecclesiastes 3 on the front and then I open it. Oh my goodness. Anyone who says teenagers don’t care has not met Austin who inspired this beautiful necklace you above. My friend, her husband, son and daughter were at the Believers’ Chapel North on December first. Her son made this statement after returning home, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could come up with a Purple Heart badge for Lisa...I know (she was in battle) the battle for her soul.” Silence…

I am encouraged, motivated, inspired, humbled, wowed, awe struck, and overwhelmed. God’s timing is perfect. I wore my purple heart with such thanksgiving in my heart today. A family of four Christmas angels brought more blessings to me and my entire family this morning.

To all my Christmas angels ~ Thank you for everything. These two little words cannot express the amount of hope, love, and faith you have instilled, uplifted, and grown over the past week. Blessed…I love you all!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11a