Written by Margot Wallace, from the Village Church. Margot also created the art provided.
At Christmas, my sister, Grandmother, Mother, and I prepared special food to be shared from the harvest of our garden, which was Dad’s domain. Each holiday season we shared our Christmas Eve feast with relatives, neighbors, and friends. Praise and adoration be to our God, for he is good. His grace and mercy fill the heavens and earth. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, and joyfully praise our creator. As a father, he loves us, his children. Sing his praises with joyful thanks in love and devotion! Let us love him who has loved us since the world began. Who would not love God from the heart? We cannot give him adequate praise. Still, in heaven he receives with goodwill our joyful songs of praise and pours much joy into our souls, whenever we thank him, whenever we live in him. Sing to Jesus Christ praise, thanks, and glory, for he came from heaven to destroy sin and death for us and by his precious, willing sacrifice, restored innocence and peace. Already here on earth, he renews joy and life to us by his grace. Still, greater bliss is prepared there for those who love him when one day they will be renewed in his image, made new and holy, and awakened from death. Let us rejoice in our holy God! Let us rejoice in our eternal God! How blessed it is to praise him here, and then in heaven. He is our holiness! He is our life! He always loves us, his children.
This still life watercolor painting represents some of the bounty from our family garden. Transforming that harvest into a feast was especially fun and gratifying! The excitement of Christmas soon became a reality as the eggplant became a favorite “pancake;” the avocado became delicious guacamole; each squash was distinctly prepared with raisins or chestnut bits or cinnamon, seasonings, and lots of butter! Fresh pomegranates plucked from the tree were opened and their yummy seeds captured for the relish tray to top mashed potatoes and squash. All the hours of preparation for these rituals and routines were in honor of the birth of Jesus…The wonderful, warm hopeful message that this season brings to all Christians everywhere! We all enjoyed these gatherings of family and neighbors and close friends who we called to feast with us. Eventually, we would sing Christmas carols around the tree. My favorite: “Mary, Did You Know?” always made our song fest list. Little did she know we would celebrate the birth of her baby in 2023!
Pathways Press.com 