As a child and then into my young adult years, the season of Advent became very rich in meaning for me and continues to fill my spirit every time when this tradition is added to Sunday morning corporate worship with my church family.  Advent is a four-week season in the Church calendar dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or “advent,” of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah and King. Christians from many backgrounds celebrate this time with reflections on hope, peace, love, and joy. And while their practices may look different, all focus on the hope-filled arrival of Jesus.

Advent means “arrival” and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. In Christian communities around the world, Advent refers to a four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth. It’s a time to reflect on the unexpected nature of Jesus’ humble birth and join in the anticipation of when He will come again to reunite Heaven and Earth once and for all.

The four Sundays in Advent each have an assigned adjective. Today, December 3, we focus on Hope.  It can be difficult to feel hopeful. But biblical hope means trusting in God’s character and choosing hope despite our circumstances.

I love learning, especially looking into a deeper definition of common words used in the Christian faith. Using a website that really helps me,  (bibleproject.com) I found a good resource to teach me the biblical meaning of hope as defined in Hebrew. The word YAKHAL is used for one way of having hope; it simply means “wait for” but more clearly is defined as waiting for a “person”, not a “thing”. QAVAH is another Hebrew word for hope but refers to a vision of pulling on a heavy cord, creating tension in the threads, so as a person waits for something, there is a feeling of “expectation”.

So, how do we trust God’s character? King David wrote in Psalm 18 that “As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the Lord is tested, it is perfect, it is faultless; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” (Amplified Version)

How do we choose hope regardless of our circumstances? Another psalm–most likely the most recognized one of all is Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Did you know that Jesus is the Anointed One? That He is the Liberating King? These adjectives came from The Voice version of Hebrews 9:28. I LOVE this description explaining that His death was for ONCE, and His second coming is for those “looking” and “waiting” for Him. King David described Him as being a “shepherd”, a description that is found throughout the New Testament when we read about Jesus’ life and earthly ministry.

So, are you looking? Waiting? In our small community alone, there are individuals and families who need a great measure of hope. Sickness has robbed us of loved ones. The economy has placed heavier strains on household budgets that were already faltering before we all experienced increased prices for goods and services. It’s easy to lose hope. It’s difficult to trust in someone or “something” to ease burdens that feel like you’re wearing a straightjacket, unable to feel free and confident every day. But God. In His message to all of us on this first Sunday in Advent is that there IS hope. A kind of hope that doesn’t come from an ordinary human but in the person of His Son, Jesus, Who knows us, loves us, understands us, and cares about every detail of our lives.

If you are feeling discouraged, alone, not sure where to turn in your present circumstances, I invite you into the season of Advent. Our community has good church bodies that celebrate this beautiful season leading us to Christmas Day.  Being part of a church family will not make all your troubles suddenly disappear, but what WILL happen is that as you hear God’s Word, as you listen to messages about His promises being good and true, that He is for you and and not against you, a NEW sense of expectant anticipation will rise within you. 

I have celebrated over 50 years of Advent seasons. I never grow tired as we light a candle each Sunday representing hope, peace, love and joy. May the words from Isaiah fill you and bring a refreshing to your soul.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. […] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Will you join me in the waiting? Will you seek hope these weeks leading into Christmas? Will you gather with others in our community and experience the light from a small candle that reflects the very essence of the Light of the Word? 

In my last column I wrote about my thoughts relative to gratitude as I reflected upon Thanksgiving Day approaching. By the time you read this, most of us will have had our fill of turkey, ALL the side dishes and desserts that make up a feast, hopefully around tables with family and friends who you appreciate and love. For us, my husband and I enjoyed the day with my brother and his family in his home. It’d been several years since we enjoyed a Thanksgiving Day together, so with great intention, we made the decision to spend time together.

With thoughts of gratitude behind me now, my mind has transitioned to “giving”. Christmas is fast approaching which is the most popular season of giving in today’s culture. The spirit of Christmas seems to lure folks into jolly attitudes and loving generous hearts that fill kettles for Salvation Army, purchase gifts for needy families, line community pantry shelves with food…send extra financial gifts to organizations in our community and even around the world.

This past week I taught a lesson for our local Celebrate Recovery group. Lesson 23 is titled “Give” and is based on Step 12 of the program: “Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs”. A scripture that accompanies this step comes from Matthew 10:8: “Freely you have received, freely give”.  

In order to add some personal depth to my lesson, I asked for answers to this question I posted on one of my social  media accounts. “What is your main way of giving: financial, volunteering, performing tasks without pay, etc.” The responses I received were great so I’m sharing some of them in my column this week.

• Jackie & her husband Rick provide afghans and blankets for Veterans. Together, they purchase all the supplies. Jackie does the crocheting. At Christmas, Rick bakes dozens of cookies to give to the staff at the Veterans’ Hospital in Saginaw.
• Jenifer, a single mom, noted that she tithes 10% of her income, serves in children’s ministry and when her budget allows she provides a meal for a family in need. She also focuses on “loving like Jesus” wherever she goes each day.
• Marilyn said “giving is only giving when it hurts a little”. For her, being stretched to give more whether it’s money or her time asks her to answer this question –”what do I need to ‘give’ to make it a true gift.
• Ellen didn’t mince words. “If you need help, I’m your girl!”
• Sarah told me “any craft related creation. You have a vision? If I have the ability, I’m your girl!”
• Julie and her grandkids make care packages for homeless people in their community. Whatever they can fit into a gallon size bag, the items go! Gloves, hat, socks, and personal hygiene products.
• Cassie loves spending time with teens, sacrificing her own schedule to hang out with students.
• Leslie is another one who crochets and knits blankets, mainly for family members. She told me that with every stitch she makes, a prayer is spoken for the person who receives the blanket.
• Gretchen had the most endearing way of giving. She lives in a senior housing apartment complex and recently a woman who is deaf moved into their midst. Gretchen invited an ASL student to come and teach her and the residents American Sign Language. This woman was thrilled and as they all learned how to sign, she was able to help them hone their skills along the way. 

No doubt, with increased inflation all around us at the grocery store, gas stations, restaurants–financial giving will be a stretch for many of us. A harsher economy doesn’t mean that hardships will miraculously go away; on the contrary folks we never expected to fall upon hard times will experience a variety of needs. Yet, many of us, can still help in many ways. One of my best friends Chris lives by the motto to “hold onto things with loose hands”…basically, she has much she can share with someone who needs it more than she. When I heard about this approach to having more than enough, I adopted the concept which has seen an increase in our own generosity.  I also was reminded about a time during the Great Depression when my Grandma Jewell gently chastised my Gramp. 

With a growing number of children to feed, there were most likely 8 mouths around her dinner table by the time the ‘30s rolled into their meager livelihood on the family farm. Putting together a meal took a lot of creativity and prayer. A neighbor down the road had truly fallen on hard times. His wife had died, leaving him with two small children to raise. My dad told me “those kids were pretty smart. They always knew when dinner time was at our house and would lollygag in our yard rather than go home.” Several times Gramp found them at the dinner table making it 10 hungry bellies to fill now. Dad and his siblings found out that in private their father had told Grandma…”Sadie, I can’t keep feeding those kids. I’ve got enough of my own to worry about”. Her gentle response was all he heeded.

“Clarence, those children don’t have a momma and they’re hungry”. 

Her pantry continued to provide for each meal and Grandpa never challenged her again.

Give. How do you respond to this command? I am convinced that my grandmother and countless generous folks in our communities are living out the truth behind Jesus’ words to “freely give” because He has so “freely given”. I’m also confident that many of us have “more” we can sacrifice, ample resources to let go from loosely held hands.

Giving and serving is a thermometer of our love. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. “My children, love must not be a matter of words or talk; it must be genuine, and show itself in action”. 1st John 3:18

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”–Melody Beattie

The month of November holds many special days for me, my own birthday and wedding anniversary which are two weeks apart, our son’s birthday, as well as a son-in-law’s. Along with these “personal” celebrations we add in Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving Day. Scattered throughout the month are countless special days for others. No matter the significance of each event in November, they are all blanketed under an umbrella of “gratitude”. At least, that’s how November is being marketed to us now…midst football games, turkey dinners, Christmas decorations and advertising crowding out everything else before the turkey has even been put in the oven or deep fryer!

I was thinking about Veteran’s Day which we observed last week and the anticipation of Thanksgiving as we check off each day from our calendar leading up to Nov. 23. My mind drifted back to remembering the devastation that occurred in our country on Sept. 11. We all witnessed a flurry of patriotism. Churches saw an increase in attendance, although now those numbers have dwindled again. Most every coat lapel we saw on a TV personality bore a small American flag pin. Flag emblems now adorn most of the uniforms worn by major sporting teams. Many of us began taking a moment to acknowledge a Veteran or a first responder in our midst by giving a “thank you for your service”...I’ve done so myself and though I fear my words are trite, they remain my best. A sincere “thank you” is ample and satisfies my desire to express appreciation. Veteran’s Day also allows me to remember two favorite family stories….

My dad’s father–my Grandpa Jewell—had an elementary education. He was a hard worker who toiled sunup to sundown an 80 acre farm. To supplement income he used his skills with an ax to help clear trees on land in Northern Michigan. Gramp and Gramma raised 11 children during the depression and when World War II drew America into the efforts, my dad and four of his brothers all served in various branches of our military. Fast forward to the end of the war, dad and his brothers came home, married and began civilian life in their respective careers. Grandpa got a letter from the government stating he owed back taxes on the farm. Using his elementary age writing skills and sharp retorts, he wrote back….”you’re telling me I owe $?. Well, you took five of my boys to fight in your war. You didn’t ask me if you could have ‘em’…I think I paid enough.” Family lore told us this story and to this day I believe it and I also know (according to family) Grandpa never heard from the government office again.

One of those five boys, my Uncle Lyle, served in the Air Force as a career which spanned World War II, Viet Nam and final duty assignments in Hawaii before retiring to California. On one of their trips back to Michigan, he and my aunt stopped at a small motel for the night. Before going to bed, Lyle went outside for a walk and noticed a beautiful Harley Davison parked for the evening. As he walked a slow circle  around the bike, admiring it,  he was interrupted and when lifting  his head to find where a big voice was coming from, he was quite startled by the size of the person who clearly was the owner of the bike.

In a rather burly angry tone my uncle was greeted with “what do you think you’re doin!”

“I’m admiring your bike”.

By now the guy had seen the cap Lyle was wearing, one of many he owned. This one bore the P-51B Mustang insignia. “I suppose you’re gonna tell me you fought in World War II”.

“Yes”, I did.

“I suppose you’re gonna tell me you rode in one of those planes”.

“Yes, I did. But, I didn’t only ride in the plane, I was the pilot”.

Following a very brief moment of silence…Lyle thought to himself “what have I gotten myself into here. This guy is huge and he’s probably gonna do something that causes pain”.

Their silence was broken with the bike’s owner extending his hand to shake Lyle’s, creating a bridge between a Harley owner and a retired pilot. In their travels, both had seen a lot of beauty and their fair share of tragedies, too, that my imagination can only try to comprehend and yet not embrace in totality.  “I just wanna thank ya man. Because of you and your service, I have the freedom to ride my bike wherever I want.”

My dad, my uncles, are all gone from our family now. As I read through the quote I used at the top of this article, focusing on the phrase how gratitude can make sense of our past…bring peace…create vision for tomorrow…I’m left with a large measure of assurance how memories and “stories” from my family have helped mold me into the person that I am today. 

Last weekend I had the privilege of thanking a very mature Veteran for his service. He, too, was wearing a cap that proudly bore the insignia for his military branch. Those caps remind these ole guys–and women–of a past filled with heartache and triumph. They are worn very proudly and when I see someone wearing one, I seldom hesitate to take a moment to say “thank you”.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day there will be a lot of preparation for a big meal. Maybe there will be travel arrangements, plans to relax in front TVs to watch the “big game” or indulge in silly movies. How we celebrate this day is by personal choice. My only hope is that more of us will truly pause…allow silence to fall on our tables like a soft rain…and from hearts of humility and gratitude utter a sincere “thank you”….not to nature, not to the universe, not to luck….but to the One Who gives only good gifts from above. If you’ve never prayed before, here’s a little help from our country’s history, a prayer credited to the Pilgrims in the early 1600’s.

“O Lord our God and heavenly Father, which of Thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies. Grant us peace to use them reverently, as from Thy hands, with thankful hearts: let Thy blessing rest upon these Thy good creatures, to our comfort and sustentation: and grant we humbly beseech Thee, good Lord, that as we doe hunger and thirst for this food of our bodies, so our soules may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen” 

Apparently my night driving has created two new flaws, as evidenced driving home Tuesday evening from one community to another. It seems I hesitate too long when a stop light turns green and unknown to me I “hug” the center yellow line, maybe a slight swerve or two. That’s what the officer told me.

Yes, I was stopped about 9:15 pm on my drive home, minding my own business, listening to the radio, wondering why the vehicle behind me seemed to be a bit close–tailgating actually…the swirling lights answered that question.

I pulled over. I put the window down. I kept my hands on the wheel. I greeted the officer who didn’t look old enough to shave. I tried to answer his question ‘do you know why I stopped you?’ Why is that the standard first sentence out of their mouths?…I guess I’ll have to ask…followed by the next routine question…’where are you coming from?’ I’m pretty sure they want to see if alcohol can be smelled while having these quizzes…

Tuesday, I had been at a Celebrate Recovery meeting giving my testimony. When I told that to my way-too-young officer he said, “Oh, for alcohol or drugs? (there goes the ole assumption again–everyone in recovery must be an addict!) ‘No, for food issues and codependency’. My answer landed flat, like a deflated balloon falling from the ceiling to the floor.

I provided the usual documents. I confirmed the absence of weapons in my vehicle. I waited for him to run the system for my record.

I listened as he explained that by hesitating too long at the green light I was endangering other drivers. This was his response after I explained to him that as a defensive driver, I always wait a tad bit when my light turns green because I’ve almost been smooked by an oncoming driver. He acknowledged my caution, but made it clear I’m the more dangerous person.

I had no defense for occasionally hugging the center yellow line. I’m sure he was looking to snag an “driving under the influence” person. I got a mild scolding for that offense as well.

What I didn’t get was a “happy belated birthday”. Ya, two days after turning 70 I had an experience with a community police officer that maybe made some assumptions? 

His parting conversation with me included ‘So, no alcohol, no drugs, no shots tonight?’

No, sir. Just water. And a bit more educated about green lights and my version of defensive driving.

Oooh…70 years ago….that seems like a very large number to me all of a sudden. Because on Nov. 5 I turn 70. When did this happen? Well, it happened on a Thursday, 70 years ago…I don’t remember what time of the day I was born. I do know that as my mother’s third baby her labor pains came hard and fast and upon arriving at the hospital I was born a mere 11 minutes later. She never totally forgave my dad for his hesitancy in getting her to the hospital…according to him “it didn’t seem like it was time”.

Sitting here at my laptop, finding myself curious about any significant events that occurred on my birthday, I did a search online. I came up empty handed; nothing of great excitement took place.

Next, I searched to find if November holds any special days during its calendar life. Low and behold I found four that made the list for the 5th. Not in any particular order, here they are:

• World Tsunami Day–there’s one I won’t be concerned with unless I visit a coastal or island country. Living in Mid Michigan my biggest worries are mosquitoes in the summer and lake effect snow from the western side of the state. Since I really like snow, I will check that off my hazard list of things to watch out for as life threatening.
• Love Your Red Hair Day–I DO love red hair! While some shades of this unusual hair color aren’t my favorite, when someone with red hair that is also thick, full of bouncy waves or curls, my attention is grabbed! I’m amazed noticing how some children with red hair have parents who are not…typically being ones with brown or blonde hair. I have a few cousins who have red hair…not sure whose genes they got in that department.
• National Donut Day–who doesn’t like a good donut? For years my favorite flavor was a plain one covered with chopped nuts. Now, I really enjoy a warm cider donut–pumpkin or cinnamon flavor–and if a “filled” pastry is classified as a donut (which is probably not) give me a custard filled one or a long john with bismarck creme…I’ll not turn these tasty treats down, calories ignored…
• Daylight Savings Ends: My husband will tell you EVERY year this is my favorite day. I abhor losing sleep unless for a very good reason…when spring rolls around to set clocks ahead I do my fair share of moaning and groaning. I am a self confessed whiner of all things related to this day and if I WAS in charge, I’d make a law against this nasty day. Just sayin’.

So, that’s what I found…four very different observances. They aren’t anything to make world or national headlines.

I do remember some major events, though, that crossed my 70 years since 1953. Again, in no particular order….the assasination of President John Kennedy (I was a 5th grader) *John Glenn orbiting the moon (I was a sixth grader) *the shootings at Kent State University in May 1970 (I was a junior in high school)  *President Richard Nixon Resignation *Iphones and the Internet take over technology *Death of Princess Diana *Deaths of Dr. Martin Luther King & Bobby Kennedy *September 11 Attack on the World Trade Center  *Covid Virus invades the World in 2020 *deaths of grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins,  and two brothers.

Looking at my very short list, it’s apparent that negative events hold a stronger place in my memory bank…positive ones are more personal– *that first full time job *buying a brand new Firebird in 1974  *getting married *birth of two children  *seeing our two children marry their spouses *births of four grandchildren *becoming a Christ follower in 1979 *moving from the city to a rural community *working on passion for writing, thus a weekly blog and a weekly column in our local newspaper *embracing physical exercise as beneficial versus drudgery (smile) *almost being able to touch my toes again all these 70 years later …traveling to Israel in 2019 *Seeing the Grand Canyon in 2021 *pursuing educational classes for heightened ministry work…say “hello” to future textbooks and assignments. Am I crazy? We shall see…..

Happy 70th birthday to me. For some odd reason I am looking at a 19 year old gal who had just secured her first full time job, working with men and women who were in their mid 20s, some married, and thinking “Boy, are they OLD….” a young woman who watched her own parents and other family members age with each passing year but never thinking about the day they’d be gone forever…because “don’t we think we’ll have our loved ones forever?”

70 years. I don’t know what’s ahead for me in the next five, 10, 15…into my 90s perhaps? It’s a part of the future I don’t want to think about too long and when I do, there are two conditions 1) I know who everyone is and 2) I can still touch my toes.

Just sayin’.