“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” — Ernest Hemingway
Often I find ‘Holiday Hoopla’ are the least spiritual days of a year. Or, maybe I should say of a life story. It seems blood family worship happens in the minds of many that are church goers. We worship ‘King Santa’. We adore ‘Elf Gift’. We sing praises to ‘Amazon Prime’ and kneel to the latest ‘Easy Clean’.
Past wounds fester with a contagious infection. While, new knocks are seen with blood running scabs. When we start the blame turkey game and stuff it with names , my kids, my Mom, my Dad even had the audacity to die? The parade to entertain must go on.
Did or does anyone say to us, “He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities. Surely He bore our sorrows and by His stripes we are healed. Or, are these words as tried as an old stick of gum or silly as a ball on a tree. It’s a lot more soothing to watch a feral kitten unwind our knitting ball or a wounded dog wear our winter wonder land shawl as the fire warms the sore. It only takes a spark of God’s love to get a fire going. That how it is with God’s love when we pass it on. 🎼🎹
“…It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” — Ernest Hemingway
I have been thinking on this quote and granted I’m on the older side rather than the new born side and I feel shame about many of my ‘Holiday Hoopla Shenanigans’.
Now, before you call me cynical or religious or out of touch let me just say I’m all in on Santa, reindeers, gifts, family and beer. (I don’t drink beer because I don’t like the taste neither do I like spinach) You name it, it’s all good. I’m in for fun. Now, about the details of how we live our lives that just might distinguish us from one another is the point. I made myself a little flash test to see how I score on details?
Spiritual Craft-who taught me spiritual craft-what does their life look like? Who is my now spiritual traveling companion-what does their life look like at this moment?
More specific to my life details-holiday Hooplas-do they separate me from my daily family, friends and communications? Do I live my life in a cage of fear and intimidation? In keeping my holidays real, do I treat others as I would/do treat Jesus? Does honesty and trust from my being sound like the thrill of hearing church bells chime on a chilly starry night? Welcome one and all. Or, does my family and I say to some, there is no room in our Inn, but if your desperate take the stinky stable. Leave the Eternal King in the stable and crown my kids as I teach them my way and not His?
O Holy Night the Stars are brightly shining, 🌠
thedailylily.com 
Rena Oynes of Spanish Fort, Al comments:
Yeeks those words are eye opening of are lives and the holiday Hoopla. Im sad to admit that Amazon Prime is dear to my heart. Years ago as I’m now old as small children call me and look to my foolish ways of over buying which I realize with my children were loved one moment and trashed the next. What a waste of money.
My Mom use to work day and night to put together a quilt that is so loved by each now. She’d get together with others and stitch by stitch they completed quilt. A memory quilt. When given we would put aside for other ridiculous things. A memory of something held in our hands and flannel graph stories given every morning until we knew them back and forth. Prayers for others like someone hurting … Blowing out candles dressed as angels which we were not. What do we remember most? For me it’s not the things or parties galore but Jesus and family of Christ . Today I get so excited about someone getting a home made gift from thedailylily. I can’t wait for them to receive it. What a change I’ve made since long ago. But as I read the above article, omg it hit me like a ton of bricks, girl this is your wake up call, step closer to the Lord.
God is fun and I surely have a ton of laughs as we work for God. He loves us so He wants each of us to be what He called us to be. Ouch the process may hurt but growth is such a heart hug from our God. Merry Christmas!
Rena, in thinking of your Mom and her working night and day to quilt among other handmade beauty and needful things I am reminded of Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians.
Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesians
Acts 20…34) You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. 35) In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36) When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.…”Berean Study Bible
Thank you for sharing your Mothers’ handiwork with myself and others. We lodge two of her warn cozy afagans in our little hideaway that sees many cool days and guest alike. I have even seen you wrapped tight in the wee early morning hours in our ‘hideaway’ in the very Afghan from your Mom’s hand and then slip down to kneel on cold tile to pray. 🙏🏻
She left Paul’s farewell to you and your sister, Jean. We know that to be true. Paul. Hemingway or your Mom truth remains. Those church chimes seem all so real!
We heard those crochet needles go night and day and in between the quilting went on. When the needles quit clicking against a thimble or ring no more on earth would she remain. Now in heaven the needles are clicking again.. People the Valley still ask was Ruby your Mom. She taught old and young the artistic handy work so they could pass it on.
“Quote for deep thought”………. no argument from me , on the title, after reading this blog.🎄✝️
Tammy, I give *partial credit/blame🙃 to Pastor Reggie for this blog. Gary and I have adopted Pastor Reggie as one of our spiritual companions while we tour the rocky and hilly roads in the book of Judges. Last week he wove in his lesson the words of Senator Alan Simpson, age 87, speaking at the funeral of former President Bush. I did hear the Senator speak and started to ponder his wisdom humor for action. Then PR challenged us to sit up take notice. I relistened! I dialogued with Gary how wisdom humor sure could be deep soul searching. When one is skilled in this art form the wisdom of Jesus is preached and transformation may just take place. Change your thinking and Jesus transforms. It’s all a great mystery! So is a Virgin Birth! That’s Christmas! Santa and all. Because those live Santa’s at the mall has a soul and goes in Hemingway’s quote.
*partial, shared stories of family fractures, relationship misunderstandings, Etc
Sara, you write a statement above in your blog that I think speaks volumes: ” It seems blood family worship happens in the minds of many that are church goers. ” What a bright light on this glaring truth and reality.
It reminded me of something Pastor Reggie said in his teaching from Judges 9 regarding Abimelech, the son of Gideon’s concubine that rose to power and was intent on becoming king and was subsequently crowned as such. He said that that Abimelech was never a judge, he was “an oppressor of Israel”. He pointed out from vs 1, 2 that Abimelech desiring this ruling power and kingship and went to his mother’s family and said, “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!”
(after gaining the power he wanted he murdered 69 of the 70 sons on one stone)
Pastor Reggie then followed up that statement from Abimelech with this warning, “A lot of people have been cheated right after the words, I’m your flesh and blood.”
Great connector Debi! You did a great job connecting the book of Judges and Pastor Reggie’s teaching with this blog.
I am a great lover and fan of God’s Word. “All things work together….”we so often read and quote from the Book of Romans. It’s truly a mystery how we can write on this blog from different parts of the world wherever we may be, yet, when Jesus is the reason for our being the connectors are jointly fit together. Ephesians 4:16 amp “From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.”