My kids and grandkids and their four dogs left after the holiday, and it has been mighty quiet without them. My grandson bagged his first deer with an excellent shot of 125 yards. Pretty amazing since this was the first time he ever shot a gun.
For the most part the kids and dogs played and we just ate like hogs and sat around talking. I had bought the necessary taxidermy tools to mount their yellowfin tunas from our last vacation to Costa Rica for the boy’s Christmas presents and girlie stuff for the girls. They seemed to like their presents especially the boys with their fish mounts for their rooms.
I hadn’t mounted anything for over forty years and it was no walk in the park. All in all though it was a good wholesome experience spent with loved ones.
We of course said a prayer prior to each meal and the grandchildren handled that for the most part. There was no bickering, drinking, drugs, or even arguing and I couldn’t think of much more God would want on His birthday,. Though it has been over fifty years since the days of hell I lived through, I remember all too well spending Christmas drinking, drugging, fighting, and just being mean. Of course, then it would continue into the New Years holiday. I was 24 years old when I finally accepted the Lord as my Savior. I’m so glad those bad days are gone forever.
One of my Christmas prayers was for the Lord to help those who have lost their way like I did. This morning I thought about the entire new generation being established in my family as a result in part of changing my life. It reminded me of the old man shedding this corruptible body and exchanging it for an incorruptible. My grandfather, two uncles, and my brother, Jim all committed suicide. Many others in my family suffered from alcoholism and drugs,. But for the grace of Christ, I would have suffered the same fate. The same God who looked down on me with mercy in His heart and peace in His hand can save you from chaos to deliver His peace. We just need to allow Him in. I can assure you that He wants to do that for you.
Isaiah 26:12
“O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.” Isaiah 54:10 – “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”