There are times that I have to work extra hard to see that silver-lining. Christmas 2024 was certainly one of those times. I had big plans of rockin’ around a Christmas tree with my family!
I had been prepared for weeks prior to the big day and was waiting patiently to capture a Polaroid moment with those I love.
Well, there was a glitch that kept me from doing so. A few uninvited guests showed up to my home and had the audacity to come right on in through the front door without even ringing the doorbell. They caused a big ruckus and hung around way too long. How rude.
There wasn’t a turkey, no stuffing, no cranberry sauce, no gathering around the table. There was not a sound of crinkling paper as my grandchildren ripped open their gifts, at least in my house.
It wasn’t a jolly ole’ St Nicholas time, and certainly not a Polaroid moment. My Christmas festivities had to be postponed until a later date.
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear. I’m singing. I’m singing. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay. Where? Down in my heart.
Ringing in the new year was a bust too. Bah humbug.
Darn, those pesky germs.
What was this girl to do? Pull herself up by the bootstraps, in my case slippers, and get over it. I will admit that I wasn’t happy, much less joyful.
“If you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere” said Billy Sunday.
Joy and happiness are synonymous but are not the same. Happiness is temporary, dependent upon people, places, things, circumstances. Joy is a conscious choice and it will thrive through the love of the sovereignty of God. No matter the circumstance, disappointment, difficulty.
Patch the leak. Choose to live in joy and cultivate it daily. Meditate on the Word of God. Pray fervently, specifically, expectantly. Serve others. Hone in on the many blessings, even the smallest. Remember God’s unconditional unchanging love and His goodness every day, in every way.
Better yet, raise an Ebenezer.
What? You read that right. Raise an Ebenezer.
So, what does Ebenezer mean? Take a wild guess. No judgement here.
It isn’t a word that is used in ordinary conversation, unless of course, you aren’t ordinary.
I am familiar with the name Ebenezer only because it is the first name of a fictional character and a word in a hymn. I had to look it up.
Ebenezer is a combination of two Hebrew words. “Eben” means stone and “Ezer” means help or support. The two words together mean “stone of help.”
Traditionally in Hebrew times, a person would construct a small pile of rocks or place a rock upright in a specific place to help them remember God’s provision.
Biblical roots refer to a stone set upright in a specific place by the Prophet Samuel, to commemorate victory over the Philistines. “The Lord has helped us to this point.”
God always provides. “Give us this day our daily bread.” God knows exactly what is needed at just the right time. Precise and perfect. Never early, never late. Even when the germs show up.
Setting up some stones of my own would indeed serve as a reminder of how God has helped me to this point.
“Come, Thou fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of God’s unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I’ve come.”
Here, I raise my Ebenezer.
Cheers!
Great post, so sorry about your Christmas bug, hope you and your husband are feeling much better. glad you could raise your Ebenezer even in rough times.
Beautiful post, thank you! Commenting on the difference between joy and happiness is so important. It is a daily prayer of mine to be a joyful and cheerful wife and mother!