Faux Paw

It was a blustery winter evening. Snow was falling and blowing, landing and skittering across the road. In the cozy warmth of my car the frigid wonderland was a sight to behold. Music was blaring from the console. Andy Williams was singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." I was singing along, caught up in an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia and childlike euphoria. "Santa Claus is Coming To Town." "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." "Silent Night." "Joy to the World." "Do you Hear What I Hear?" The songs like the memories roll around in my heart and my head. I am overwhelmed with the love of Christ. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" brings a tear to my eye as memories of Christmas past swirl like the snow hitting and bouncing off my car.
As I turn into a parking lot to wait on a friend, I am overwhelmed for a moment, choked up on emotion of the loved ones I have lost and the past joy of Christmas shared. Throwing off the melancholy I reach over and pat the head of the stuffed reindeer sitting in the passenger seat beside me. Decorating my car is a tradition started by a family motto: IF IT DOESN'T MOVE DECORATE IT! The car not moving at the time was another way for me to carry the joy of Christmas with me wherever I went. While the true Spirit is carried in my heart, the outward decorations declare and reaffirm the joy I feel.

As I pull into a parking space the music swells ....."I'm dreaming of a White Christmas just like the ones I used to know"......I can't help it-- the music takes wing in my heart and I throw out my arms and begin to add my voice to Bing's. Bing and I are singing so sweetly (okay Bing is singing sweetly)......I reached out to grasp hold of the only other object in the car.......Yes I grabbed hold of the reindeer's paw and sang out as if I was pulling him into my merry madness. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a car pull in beside me. My eyes glanced over in time to see two women sitting there looking at me. At first they looked stunned and then much to my horror they burst out laughing. Not just a tee hee but a full force "I'll never forget this moment" kind of laugh. I let go of the paw rather quickly and began to sink low in the seat. Bing was mocking me now as I felt the lower part of steering wheel begin to leave an indentation in my chin.

The ladies still laughing exited their car as I began to readjust my position and my attitude-- after all I was going to have to enter the same restaurant they were now sitting in. "Grow up!" I kept telling myself...."Grow up!" But then it struck me as funny and laughing so hard I could hardly contain myself I reached over and hit a button and Bing began singing "White Christmas" once again. Still waiting for my friend, I began to sing-- just not quite as exuberantly as before. I was still a little intimidated by my unfortunate "faux paw," but I don't think Bing or the reindeer (Rudy) noticed.

As I sit here telling you my story, I am realizing yet again the wonder of Christmas. It is a time of remembering the joyful, the silly and the serious moments of love that we have shared. Let us be blessings wherever we go. Let us stop and remember the birth of the baby Jesus. Jesus, the Savior of the world made Himself vulnerable for you and me. I am awed by the knowledge that Emmanuel is with us. May God Bless each of you. May this Christmas reveal to you the wonder of the first Christmas Gift. May you feel the blessing of His love and may your memories of this Christmas bring you joy everlasting........

Love in Christ,
Cindy Billings