Monday Morning Manna: Meaningful Christmas Memories

Among other things, Christmas is about memories. My favorite Christmas memory came in a small church in Germany. We joined worshippers in singing “Silent Night” in both German and English, as it snowed lightly outside. While this favorite memory brought tears, my second favorite Christmas memory brought laughter. My granddaughter had given me a tie for Christmas, with an image of Santa Claus in his Sleigh on it. If you pressed the front, the tie played “Jungle Bells.” She insisted that I wear the tie the following Sunday in the church where I was serving as Interim Pastor. About two-thirds of the way through my sermon, I leaned into the pulpit, setting off the song. With the lapel mike located only a couple of inches away, the entire congregation heard my tie play “Jingle Bells.” I apologized, but finished my sermon to an auditorium full of smiling faces. Whether this Christmas was marked with tears or laughter, I hope it was meaningful for you. I also hope you are thankful for some new memories made. “Thanks be unto God for his indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).

Would you like to be a member of a group that reads a chapter per day in the Bible and has opportunity to post thoughts, observations, questions, prayer requests, etc. on a private group Facebook site? If so, send me a private message no later than 5pm on Wednesday, December 30 and I’ll send you more information. We begin January 1 reading the Psalms. You must be on Facebook to participate.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.