For Such A Worm As I

Wintertide Tractations: Grow Start: It's December 17.  Most of you probably already knew that.  Here in the wonderful southern countryside where I live, we've enjoyed lovely warm weather today.  This afternoon my family spent some outside time together.  My parents raked leaves and invited me to join them and Kyrie kept us company on the front steps working on a Christmas gift project we've been hired to do.  {Besides the rush on making the Christmas gifts, we only have two and a half rakes. (Yes, I did say half.  Somehow the handle is not the comfortable normal size.)}  It was delightful outside in the Autumn-like breeze as we raked enthusiastically in our short sleeves. We burned off the garden weeks ago, but Dad's greens are still vibrant against the blackened earth although they have about reached a state of being too tough to eat.  This evening I discovered Dad's row of pepper plants that long ago fell over are still faithfully bearing fruit...

Wintertide Tractations : Other Start: As I mentioned in a previous post , Kyrie is a gift-giver.  Just now as I was in my room, she came in with two clay pitchers/sauce dishes she picked up at a recent garage sale.  She insisted that I take one, knowing that I admired them after the ooing and aahing we did when she showed us her "loot" that evening after the sale.  She knows that I, with my dream of one day having a "white, clapboard farmhouse " like things that are simple, beautiful, and useful, not to mention retro, old-fashioned, or down-to-earth if possible.  (What's more down-to-earth than pottery? *wink*)  And so, she, with her unquenchable giving-ness, made me choose one of the darling clay vessels.   She reminds me of the verse in Philippians, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (2:3).   Esteeming "other[s] better than myself" is not something that co...

Good evening!  The word for this Wintertide Tractation is: Ring  Start: Perhaps there are some of you readers who, like me, notice jewelry.  Tonight while I was at church I noticed several of the rings on those women who I associated with this evening and now that this word has come up, I realize that I had subconsciously stashed away the pictures of them.   Our church pianist and I have been working on a duet for Christmas morning and as we sat in close proximity to each other, I noticed her flashy wedding set.  It pleases me.  She is greatly loved by her quiet, thoughtful husband and as a wonderful lady I am glad that he would lavish such upon her.   I noticed another wedding set on my good friend and fellow teacher in the children's class I help with.  She and her husband are frugal.  He works hard so that she can stay home with their children, but yet again I was happy to see the "sparkler" that she wore, a token of his devotio...

It seems that I may have finally gotten caught up with my Wintertide Tractations !  The word for the day is: Wrap. Start. When it comes to gift-giving, I must admit, I struggle.  At times, I'll pass that very special something and think of some friend that I'd love to give it to.  But more often, I come to an important occasion and find myself at a loss as to what to do for the ones I love.  Perhaps it has to do with a budget too narrow to afford what I know they'd like and then a blank brain about anything that might actually fit into my spending amount.  I don't seem wired to be a giver of purchased or handmade items. Kyrie, on the other hand, is a terrific gift-giver.  She peruses little shops and sale racks all year round, spotting items right and left and tucking them away for the perfect occasion and then, voila! she produces a lovely gift that exudes thoughtfulness and love.  Her gifts are often cleverly packaged with some delightful paper or de...

I'm still trying to get caught up with my daily Wintertide Tractations .  The word is Darkness. Start. During this Christmas season when I think of the word Darkness, my mind goes to one of the pieces from my favorite oratorio, Messiah , by Georg Frideric Handel.   The words of one of the movements come from Isaiah 60:2-3, "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." The song opens in deep, almost foreboding tones.  What does this mean that darkness shall cover the earth?  I had never really thought about it; the song wasn't one of my favorites from the CD I have.  But then come the words that turn the song bright, "but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."  As I pondered the words in bed last night, suddenly, the meani...

For this Wintertide Tractation, I have the privilege of using a word that I love: Nourish Start. I mentioned in my last post that my family went to Atlanta over the weekend.  One of our favorite things to do when we're away from our church is to find a church to attend and this vacation was no exception.  In the morning, my Dad found out about a nice church just around the corner from our hotel.  In the evening we discovered a different one and had an experience that truly nourished my soul.   As we were driving along late that afternoon on an erand, my Mother noticed a sign that indicated that Romanians met for services there.  We were excited, having had friends that served as missionaries in that country for several years.  On our return we decided to stop in.  The Lord worked it out that we were right in time for the night service.  People dressed in their best filed in, greeting each other in Romanian with smiles and hugs.  Many ex...

Hello again! I've gotten behind a bit due to a trip I was blessed to take with my family.  The word for this Wintertide Tractation is Fragile.  Start. We just returned from a trip to Atlanta to participate in the Operation Christmas Child shoe box processing.  It was quite amazing how careful and expedient the whole undertaking is!  One of my jobs was to search the boxes for anything perishable or breakable.  No chocolate, no snacks, and no glass (among other things).  Fragility was the underlying factor.   Life itself is fragile, isn't it?  As we traveled back today I got to talk to a cousin.  The fragility of life struck me hard as she reported that an acquaintance of her family passed away.  It was so sudden.  He had been in a car wreck some months ago, but had seemed to be doing much better...and now this.  Although they had met him before, they barely knew him, having become better friends with his brothers.  S...