by Joanie Butman
Story of my life: a day late and a dollar short. I got preoccupied with celebrations and missed last Sunday. Not only that, due to a glitch with Shutterfly, my Christmas cards were delivered to Florida, so I will be traveling down to retrieve them in the morning. I suppose that’s as good excuse as any to spend a few days in the sun.
There’s always a saga around those darn cards. It used to be getting the family to pose. Then it was arguing over which photo to use. Now, if I can just get the four of us together I’m happy regardless of how it comes out. Last year, I grossly overestimated my popularity and ordered far too many cards. My daughter suggested I just stand on the corner in town and distribute them. Instead I put them in the closet with my large collection of hostess gifts I’ve accumulated over the years. I misjudged my popularity on that front as well, since I’m still waiting to be invited someplace I could use them!
There is only one area where I could never overestimate my popularity and where it doesn’t matter whether I’m a day late or a dollar short. With Christ I’m always right on time with no need to bring anything but an open heart. He alone has the divine ability to make each of us feel like we are His favorite – the golden child. It’s that love that compels us to send out those cards – not to showcase our own family but to celebrate being part of His.
My New Year’s wish is that we all choose to start 2020 looking to the apostle John as an example and be bold enough to claim “I am the one who Jesus loves.” It is never too late to open that Christmas gift. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Happy New Year!
