Santa, Saint Nicholas, and Jesus

When I was a little girl I was very fortunate to have parents and relatives that went out of their way to insure that my sisters and I had a wonderful Christmas. At times I even had the generosity of a neighbor to spread a little more of the glorious gift giving! I LOVED Christmas! One memory I will never forget is the sweetness of our neighbor, Mr. Harris, dressing up as Santa. One of his visit I went with my dad to the door and caught a glimpse of "Santa's" car and wondered why he was driving Mr. Harris's car. I still didn't get it. So many fond memories of Santa, elves, family, gifts, food, church productions, and oh yeah, baby Jesus. Do you read this and feel like I just ya-da, ya-da Jesus? I do! I say this because I feel this sets the tone my heart was at, at the time these questions came to pass.
Have you ever wondered where the concept of Santa Clause came from, and why do we drive ourselves almost mad upholding a "little white lie" just so our children will continue to believe in his existence? It was about 8 yrs ago that I faced the reality that there was no Santa and that my children would not grow up with this tradition, though I so wanted it. My "ba-hum-bug" husband made the executive decision that it was a lie and that we were not going to participate in it. Of course, I couldn't go down without a fight and had to prove that this was a "once upon a time" truth and there was something to salvage from my childhood. This is where my adventure began...
I started my research on the history of Santa Claus and found nothing but disappointment. There was never was a real Santa Claus and the Santa we all know and love began as a cartoon drawing done by a Civil War cartoonist, Thomas Nast . He drew Santa Claus for the Harper's Weekly in 1862. The Santa then was drawn as a small elf-like figure who supported the Union. Nast continued drawing Santa for 30 years. Along the way he changed the color of Santa's coat from tan to the now traditional red. It was Nast's interpretation of St. Nick. Later in the 1920's Coca-Cola needed to convince people that their beverage wasn't just for those warm summer months, but that it was for all seasons. They connected the winter icon -Santa- with their drink and ran a few adds in the Saturday Evening Post. A few years later Coca-Cola hired an artist, Haddon Sundblom, to paint a few more advertisement for their campaign. Sundblom needed some inspiration and something that would connect with the people, so he turned to the Clement Clark Moore 1822 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (commonly called "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"). For the next 33yrs Sundblom painted these beautiful, plump, jolly pictures of this friendly man we now know as our beloved Santa Claus.
After reading this information I came across a great children's book The Visit by Mark Kimball Moulton. It is the story behind the infamous poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas". I then proceeded to ask "How did this cartoon character come to life and become such a strong facet of our Christmas traditions?" This prompted me to look at the other acclaimed name, Saint Nicholas.
Upon my research into Saint Nicholas, I began to wonder why as a Christian I really didn't know anything about him. He was a real man who lived in the 4th century. There are many stories about him and his strong faith in Christ. I guess I just assumed he and "Santa Claus" were one in the same, but not so. Nicholas led a very difficult life as a child, grew up and through God given circumstances was chosen to become a bishop that eventually placed him in a position to lead Christians through a time of great persecution. He is remembered as a great saint, and on December 9, many celebrate and observe Saint Nicholas Day.
Now,on to Jesus. Please don't assume I say this with disrespect but I feel this sets the tone so many put him at. I grew up in the church and knew to always keep Jesus as, "The reason for the season". I've heard the story of His birth so many times that it had lost its "magic". I now understand why people have the need and longing for the feeling Santa Claus brings them. When I personally began to read the story for myself I began to see something that went beyond the Nativity set that sat on top my coffee table. This was truly a wonderfully quiet and humble beginning for such an AWESOME Lord. We as Christians were never told to observe this time nor to remember, yet somewhere in time we have taken it upon ourselves to make it a "commercialized outreach". Please don't take me wrong, I love this time of the year and all that comes with it. The more I read and gain knowledge of the time frame of His actual birth and the Jewish culture, it makes me sad to know how little I really understand this great God and all the hope that came on the very day He was born. It was a magical night with no gifts, no family visiting, no special dinner served, and no decorations for his "room". It was the lowly shepherds that came and left changed that night, with their hearts full of excitement and praise. In Luke 2:19 it says that as Mary listened to the story the shepherds shared with them, she kept those things in her heart and pondered them. How much she must have been taking in! So full of awe and wonder...the very thing we all long for on Christmas morning!
To pretend in a world of enchantment where reindeer fly and elves make toys can be fun, but to know a God who can give us and has given us more than our hearts can hold is amazing! Santa can't even compete! May this be the Christmas that truth is seen and felt in your heart and you too will be of great joy! Merry Christmas!!!

Beautiful One

My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me"
Song of Solomon 2:10-13 NIV

I recently read a book titled "Beautiful One A Walk In Deeper Intimacy With The One Who Created Us".  It was a very good and inspiring book full of stories from several well known woman sharing their life journey stories. The scripture on the first page gripped my attention, Song of Solomon 2:10-13.  The tears began to form in my eyes when I read the invitation that was set before me along with the way I was being addressed, "My beautiful one".  The poetic beautiful and imagery of these words began flooding my mind. It took me awhile to sketch what I could see and yet this picture hardly does it justice. To read these words and feel them verberate in my soul was a bit more than I was ready for.

This morning I was praying about this picture and what to say. God brought to mind the end scene of the Disney movie, "Snow White".  Snow White was put to sleep by the evil queen, who in reality wanted her dead, was gently AWAKENED by the prince. Not only did he awaken her, but he found her so BEAUTIFUL that he chose her, carried her, and made her the princess she was .

I have realized that somewhere within my life I have grabbed hold of a lie that I'm was not beautiful enough and that no one would ever truly love me. Where did this  lie come from and why? I was loved as a child, didn't come from an abusive home, and I have a wonderful husband who tells me that  I'm beautiful and that he loves me. Yet, with all this affirmation I struggle to know, and I mean really know, how loved I am by the those closest to me and more important by the God who created me. What I've needed is a revelation of  how much God loves me and desires me! The more people I meet the more I find this to be true for others as well. We live in a very broken world and I think it a shame that I sit in this, yet "Praise God!" I know that I am well on my way to "getting it" and learning to walk in His love.  I have to acknowledge that I have an enemy, "the wicked queen" who wants me "asleep" so that can't share the beauty that lies within me and meet the destiny that is planned for me .

Held

There is none like God, O Jeshurun [Isreal], Who rides through the heavens to your help and in His majestic glory through the skies. The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms... Deuteronomy 33:26-27

   "Why, God why?" "When, God when?" "How, God how?" These are the questions that everyone at some point or another will or has asked in the middle of the night. They are the questions that leave us tossing and turning, while wresting with finding our own human solutions and understandings. It is in these moments I am learning that I have to understand that God's plans are not my plans and His ways are not my ways. It is in those moments I have to believe and have faith in knowing that I am held. Natalie Grant sings a song called "Held" and in the lyrics it has a message that we are never promised that our life would be without pain, heartache, disappointment, etc., but through it all we are held by the Great and Mighty Hand of God.  
   I don't know about you, but I had a mother who loved to sing so when we couldn't sleep she would come in and sing a song over us and the sound of her voice brought comfort and peace to ease us into sleep. Our heavenly Father does that for us too. In Psalm 42:8 "Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me..."  It is in our trusting God that will bring us blessings and peace.
    I pray that you will hear God's song over you and that you find comfort and rest in His hands!

  

Jesus Take The Wheel

The other day I was driving down the road and heard this song on the radio and it struck a chord in my heart. It wasn't the first time I had heard this song, but this time it almost moved me to tears. It was an invitation, for me, to take inventory of my life....Time to yield and allow God to take control of this life...again! Because I can't do this on my own!

Our Beginnings....

It was 14 years ago today that I was this 20 year old child bride. I can almost hear myself giggling down the isle! I went into this journey with much hope, many expectations, my dreams pinned to this man, and thinking I had it all figured out. Boy, was I naive! I had little idea of all the challenges and growth this choice would bring to me. Within 6months of marriage, we found ourselves in the hospital with my aunt, his nurse, looking me in the face and telling me that Mike might not walk again, to the ups and downs of travel for his job, to the sorrow and joy of baring children, and the never ending adventure of the dance...
I have been asked many of times, "How did you know he was the one?". My answer was, "He felt like home,". I now have a better understanding to my answer. Home is where your heart is. It is the place you know you can be yourself, knowing and accepting the fact that neither of you are perfect, and continuing to learn from one another every day. I am truly bless to say that he is my best friend, my partner, my lover, and everything in between!
Over the past 2-3 years God has begun showing me a little about myself and my relationship to Him through my marriage. I've had to learn how to rely on God more for understanding and finding my fulfillment. Mike is a wonderful husband, but I've had to come to grips with he can't be my all. As much as I love the Jerry McGuire line, "You complete me." it can't be my full marital reality. God is the only one who can do this! But, I sure am glad that He partnered me, with a man, I think does.
As we continue our dance, I know we will step on each others toes, argue about the speed or style, and even  get tired of just dancing at times, but I trust and pray that through it all our hands will never let go.

To those of you who are reading this and have been with us, prayed for us, and have listened to us through our journey, I thank you.
To my husband, I Love You very much! Thank you for the many years and the many adventures! Looking forward to so many more.

Beginnings...

As a little girl I often found some feeling of purpose in my drawing. It wasn't because I was the best at it, but because most often when I didn't know what to say to someone I drew them a picture. It was the way I was able to tell someone that I "loved" them. As I grew older my dreams of doing something with my art faultered and "growing up" became the object of my affection.
Over the course of the last couple of years my "heart for art" has begun to burn once more. As I spend more time with God and in church I see things, like visuals or pictures to the scriptures I read or hear. Most of the time I barely have time to scratch them out, but do so in hopes that it will help me to remember what I just recieved from God. I am hoping that with this blog and my simple sketches I can share some of my art and life with you.