A Reason for Giving

A Reason for Giving

A Christmas Po-story (poem/story)

By Crystal Malloy

“Christmas is coming!

“Oh, I can hardly wait!

“Christmas is coming!”

I said to Sarah Applegate.

Family and friend and lots of fun games

Carols and lights and reindeer held by reigns

And of course

presents!

Where would we be without those?

Presents are the

MOST important!

As everyone knows

I was at school on the last day when I said that out loud.

It was Christmas Vacation and my class was waiting for the bell to sound

We were all ready to be sent on our way

With at least

TWO WEEKS!

Of free from school time to play.

I stood in the corner of the classroom, staring up at the Christmas tree

When all of a sudden I heard a small voice beside me.

“The gifts aren’t what’s important, buy WHY we give them is.”

I turned to see who was talking; it was little Jeremy McGriz

“Why we give them? Well, what do you mean?”

But before I got an answer it was time to leave.

On the way home from school, I asked my big brother.

“Why do we give gifts at Christmas time to one another?”

“Come on sis, don’t be silly, cause they give them to US!”

The rest of the way home I just sat thinking, on the bus.

I give presents to people

And then they give some to me?

It seems kind of funny, a strange way to be.

Now don’t get me wrong,

I Love getting presents.

But, that can’t be the answer yet,

Surely we don’t give, to get.

We got off the bus at Aunt Ruth’s

“I’ll ask her, maybe she knows the truth.”

“Aunt Ruth, do you have a Christmas present for me?”

“Well, of course I do, now don’t be silly.”

“Why did you get me one, is there a reason?”
“of course dearie, its because of the Christmas season.

“Now hurry along there is much to do,

Christmas is coming!

It will be here soon.

After Aunt Ruth’s my brother and I headed to the mall. Usually I would run from store to store and have a ball.

But today too much was on my mind.

There were too many answers I needed to find

I walked down and entered my favorite store,

It had a sign that said WATCHES, GALLORE

The salesman was busy, but I just had to ask

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt you from your task,

but I have a question, I could really use some assistance.”

“Could you please tell me why we give gifts at Christmas?”

“We give presents to show our love at Christmas time.”

But why Christmas? I said,

is there a reason?

Is there a rhyme?

The salesman sighed,

And through up his hands

And then went to help another man with some watch bands.

“Excuse me young lady,”

said an older woman standing by

She was round and cheery with a sparkle in her eye

“I couldn’t help but over hear, and I’d like to help you out

“And tell you what all this gift giving is about.

“You see Christmas is the time we celebrate Christ’s birth

because many years ago, he came to this earth

born in a manger with a star up above,

he was the perfect gift,

he was God’s love

And today gifts are a symbol and reminder to give God’s love to all

And that’s something that just can’t be bought in a mall

She smiled a bright smile and patted my cheek

She headed out the door,

But turned to give me a wink.

I watched her walk away as I waved goodbye,

Jeremy McGriz was right, it’s not what we give, buy why.

God gives us so much love all through out the year

We should always have a little holiday cheer

Jesus was given to us,

A magnificent present

He was God’s son

And to us he was sent

And after knowing that

Our lives shouldn’t be the same

Because once you have God’s love

It’s too big to contain

And giving it to others should come naturally

So whether in July

Or wrapped up under a tree

Gifts show our love and remind us of its source

Which was from God

To a manger

To you and me of course

And may we never forget the reason that we give

Because once we know Jesus

It’s also the reason why we live.

Merry Christmas Eve!
About 10 years ago at this time of year I wondered to myself... "why do I give presents?"
I know why people give them, but, why ME specifically, at Christmas, do I give presents??? Is it because of society? Tradition? Selfishness? I wanted a purpose from my gift giving, other wise, why do it... ( I know sooo my over-thinking, over-complicating personality) but, I did some thinking and then started writing and this story was what came out. It has become kind of dear to me now that I am a mom and wanted to pass it along.

May you be so filled with the Love of Jesus this Christmas that it over flows!
-Crystal

Standing Still

I haven't "blogged" in a while.
I've tried. I've written a few things I thought sounded "kinda good," however, I started this blog to be honest about where I am in my life and what is new to me...
I could put a hundred "good" posts here, but the reality is I haven't written because
what is new to me is?

Hormones and baby blues.

Man, I can't say I've experienced anything like this. I'm generally a very steady person. I don't tend to swing to extremes, I don't get my feelings hurt easily and wouldn't describe myself as sensitive; until now.
I'll save you my whining and complaining and get to the heart of my main issue and why I'm having such a difficult time.

My issue is standing still.

I am a fixer. I literally believe in the core of my being that I can fix anything. That I can "make anything happen." Maybe I watched too many after school specials growing up, or maybe it's coming from two strong-willed, independent parents, but that's me.
Phrases like:
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
"The Lord helps those, who help them self."
are etched into the crevasses of my brain.

What is new to me is a verse I read about two weeks ago, but in my post- pardum brain just clicked today.
Exodus 14:14- "THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, YOU NEED ONLY BE STILL." (Or some translations say Be Silent.- either way both are difficult!)

What didn't click til today is that being still is not doing nothing. Standing still is an ACTION. It takes a lot of concentration and focus to stand still, especially for this fixer!

In Exodus 14 the Israelites had come to the Red Sea and Pharaoh's Army had "chased" after them. As they stood at the river and saw his army approaching they lost it. They turned on Moses and blamed him for leading them to their death. Their "fix" would have been to return to slavery! How short sighted and how small was their god! This same GOD HAD JUST sent 10 plagues through Egypt demonstrating His power, but Fear set in and they were choosing SLAVERY. The very thing they had been begging delivery from for almost 400 years!
Thankfully, God had the voice of Moses to tell the people to "Fear Not! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today..." And then God told them to go forward. Into the Sea, which He parted for them. They crossed and watched as Pharaoh and his army were destroyed.

It is so easy to read this scripture and identify with Moses. To say- "how stupid are the Israelites!" But- REALITY CHECK! I'm the Israelite! I'm the stupid one trying to "fix" things myself. I'm the one loosing sight of the power and deliverance of my God. He doesn't make it difficult for us. We just have to get ourselves out of the way. I have to get myself out of the way!

Lord, give me the strength to stop fixing things and the power to stand still.

The Loss of Lucy

A couple months ago my friend Chermonica rescued a kitten but was unable to keep her in her apartment. We live in the country and while I would never call myself a "cat person," I am all about having a cat to keep away snakes and mice.

My daughter Macie was so excited and took to her right away. She named her "Lucy."

Lucy's black hair and bright green eyes reminded me of Halloween and I hoped that Lucy wouldn't grow to be short for Lucifer!

My fears were never realized. Lucy grew up to be a great cat. She came when called and stayed close to the house.

She was also a good source of responsibility for Macie. She was in charge of feeding her every day. Macie grew quite attached to her and would ask to go out on the front porch and hold her no less than three times a day.

Arriving home from church Wednesday night I turned to enter our drive way and I saw a small black shadow on the road. Motionless. And I knew.

Luckily, Macie was in the other vehicle and I took her inside and left Josh outside. Our sweet neighbor's son was already on his way with "buriel supplies" because they had seen her first and were trying to remove her before Macie saw.

I came inside and waited for Josh and then explained to Macie that there had been an accident and that Lucy had died. I expected Macie to cry and be upset. I did not expect what happened.

My four year old WEPT. She wept for over 45 minutes. She cried out that she "loved Lucy," over and over again. At one point I heard her crying, but didn't see her right away. When I found her she was sitting in the kitchen floor. In her arms was the bag of cat food. As she rocked the cat food back and forth and stroked the picture of the cat of the front, I held back the urge to grab my camera! It was so pitiful! And Sweet! And TOTALLY Macie! She looked up at me with red eyes and a tear stained face and said "It breaks my heart that Lucy died."
Talk about breaking MY HEART!

What was completely NEW to me was the question that then came.
"Mommy, why did Lucy have to die?"

This is the question that came out over and over again from my four year old... "Why?"

I thought, "where did she learn to ask that?"

But, she didn't learn it. She was born with it.
We all are. Our spirits know that death is not part of the plan!

Death isn't Natural. We were never made for it. We were made to live as eternal beings in the garden with our Father. Our hearts, just like my poor Macie's aren't meant to handle the weight and that is why they break.

It all started with one man...
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—" Romans 5:12

But thankfully God did not leave us there!

"For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17

Aren't you so grateful for HOPE! Hope in what is beyond this world! I love the way Paul says it.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."Romans 5:1

The Loss of Lucy has reminded me about the Hope I have beyond this world! I pray that this "life lesson" will also help lead Macie to that same hope!

In the meantime, however, if you come over you'll have to meet Taylor... our new kitty!

"I'm so Excited! I'm so... scared!!!"

"I'm so excited! I'm so... scared!!!"
If you are in my generation and grew up watching TV on Saturday mornings then you may recognize those words.
If you are not from my generation or if you were like my husband and grew up watching "Walker, Texas Ranger" and nothing else because you had only two channels, I will catch you up.
Those lines are from a very intense Jessie Spano in a thought provoking episode from the popular 90's TV show, "Saved by the Bell." In this episode Jessie chose to walk a path that many have walked. You see, Jesse was obsessively studying for her SAT's. In the midst of her studying she, Kelly, and Lisa had begun a singing group and were sitting on what could be "their big break." In an effort to try and juggle those two major tasks as well as a few others, Jesse turned to Caffeine pills. It was in her bedroom one night before heading to perform that Zach confronted Jesse about her addiction.
I have the youtube video below so that you can get the full picture.



I now find myself in the same proverbial boat that Jesse did. I can understand her excitement and fear.

I am an addict.

It all started so innocently. My friend Katie said, "Hey Crystal! Take a look at this!" And, like so many others, one look was all it took.
My drug?

Pinterest!

I love it! And like all addictions it has taken me farther than I ever expected. I have become a craft fiend! I have lost sleep, skipped meals, and ignored my household chores.
Instead, in the past week I have sewn, decoupaged, hot glued, and re-purposed with a vengeance.

Not only that, but like most addicts who go to far I have turned to dealing! I don't go anywhere that I don't talk about my new obsession and all the crafting that has followed.

So let me share with you now but, I warn you the following pictures may be too much to handle. They are a few examples of my recent craft rampage. You have been warned.

Table I re-purposed! Spray paint and modge podge.

New Hair clip flowers I've been making!
My old High Chair from when I was little- Before

After!

All these ideas and so many more I found inspiration for on Pintrest!

What about you? Any good pins?

My Moses Basket Baby

In September of last year Josh and I found out that we were pregnant with our second child. We were over-joyed and began the planning process and all that goes with it. I told myself I would wait to make any announcements but I couldn't! I called our close friends and family and let Macie, our at the time three year old, tell that she was going to be a big sister.

Unfortunately, at eight weeks pregnant, I miscarried. The sorrow was overwhelming. But, the Lord graciously showed me the depths of His love. As I tried to hide He gently reminded me that neither death nor life, angels nor demons, present nor future, nor any powers, nor heigth or depth, nor ANYTHING else in creation could separate me from His love. (Romans chapter 8)
And He began to heal my broken heart.

About a month later I felt that I might be pregnant again. I took a test and saw a faint positive. I needed to go to the Doctor to make sure. I remember it was a Thursday morning that I took the test. Worry and fear automatically began to creep in.
I was at home that morning with my daughter. She had shared with me that at Church the night before they had learned about Baby Moses and how his big sister had taken good care of him. We decided to get on youtube and see if we could find a video to watch about Moses since she was so intrigued by his story.

I know I've heard the story of Moses at LEAST 50 times. This time, however, God made it NEW. Never before had I focused on the mother in the story. Moses's mother prepared a basket for her son and placed him in a river. The NILE river!
What amazing FAITH! To say,
"God, I trust you."
"I place this baby in your care."

How did she do it?

Did she weep as she wove the reeds together for what may very well be her child's casket?
Or did she sing praises to the Lord for the future she believed God had in store for him?
Or both?
Did her hands bleed as she tightened the weave to make sure her baby would stay a float?
Did she stay up all night rocking that sweet boy, taking in every inch of his precious face, softly kissing his head and singing soft lullabies through her tears?

How do you place your beloved baby in the river and watch him float away?

The only answer I can accept is Faith.

In that moment, watching the retelling of the story of Moses on my computer with my daughter in my lap and a precious new life in my belly, my God reached down and placed His arms around me and said "give this life to me and know that whatever happens, I AM everything you need. You can trust in me."

I have since referred to Mollie as my little Moses Basket baby. There were a few scares along the way to get her here and each time I was reminded to place her in the River of the Lord and trust. I am sure that with both of my children there will be many more of those moments and I can only hope that I will be faithful.

Moses's mother was right to trust in her God.
Even if that would have been the last time she had seen her baby boy this side of heaven I have to believe that she knew, that no matter the outcome, her God was trust worthy.

The Ministry of Motherhood

A book titled "The Ministry of Motherhood" caught my attention online a few weeks ago. I was still pregnant with our now 6 week old and struggling with the attitude of my four year old when this title called out to me. I have to say I have never internalized that motherhood is a ministry, not purposefully at least, so I began searching for this book and had it special ordered.
I now have it and have begun reading it and will probably blog about it quite regularly. The big gist of the book is to intentionally disciple your children using the example that Christ set for us with His disciples.

So... you know that battle you have when your four year old decides she really doesn't want to nap, but you know that she still needs it, not only for her to finish her day well, but for you to finish her day well...

well... let's just say I've been nursing my fair share of battle scars from our on going war and I found myself after nap time harping on her about the struggle she gave me before she fell asleep. She would awake from her nap and come downstairs to the following:

"You know I'm very disappointed that you didn't lay down and take your nap like a big girl."

or

"Mommy really doesn't like that I had to get on to you to get you to take your nap." (and by "get on to" I mean spank)

Now, with my NEW outlook of ministering my children like Jesus would, one of my favorite scriptures was thrown in my face as a great starting point, it's the one I named this blog after.
The scripture comes from Lamentations chapter 3 and it states that the "Lord's compassion's never fail. They are NEW every morning." I love waking up every morning knowing that I have a fresh day to try again and here I am not giving that to my daughter. I am so the servant not forgiving the small debt when I've been forgiven of so much more. If I am going to disciple her and teach her about the Love of Jesus through my parenting I need to offer to her the same mercy and compassion that Our Heavenly Father extends to me every time I begin again.

When she woke up from nap today I greeted her with a smile and a hug and the compassion that was graciously given to me.

1st Post

Well, here is something new. A blog about the "newness" in my life. It seems I am always wanting to share about "something new" that I've found or discovered and here is my little world to indulge myself without overwhelming my husband and friends. I love the scripture that talks about God's mercies being NEW everyday. I find such peace and comfort in that, but this blog won't be all spiritual... some posts may be about a great new website or recipe I've found or just something I want to rave about. Isn't blogging grand? It can be anything you want it to be! Oh, I'm gonna have fun!