It was a shocker, alright. It was in the very early hours of Christmas morning when the huge, noise that shook the house abruptly woke up the neighborhood. Glenn looked at me with terror in his eyes and then ran into the room where Hannah was sleeping. He “sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.” I heard him mutter something about a bomb as he ran out of the room. The last time I had heard a noise like that had been many years ago when a big trash truck had bolted over a curb and into our house (but that’s another story for another post). The kids were both okay and, on investigation, we found that, this time, a huge part of a tree had fallen on the house. There was damage, but safety for all.

Later in the day, the kids and I were talking about how their dad reacts to unknown perceived threats.  He inhales hugely! (BIG gasp that’s a little funny on reflection). Then he runs (dressed or not) to wherever his kids are. The amazing thing was that his reaction was just the same when they are twenty-something as it was when they were 2 and 6. He instinctively runs to his children. Their safety and protection are his only immediate concern. While we were talking about this, Hannah said she could remember one occasion, as a child, when a bumblebee woke her up buzzing around her head. She said, “I was scared of that noise in the dark, I cried out and immediately heard Dad’s footsteps–loud running footsteps– as he ran into my room and took me in His arms. Then he killed that bee. Anytime I yelled in the night, he was right there, right then.”

I think every child who has a good father remembers what it felt like to be in his arms. I remember pretending I was asleep in the back of our station wagon when I was a child just so my daddy would carry me in the house. Ultimate protection, strength and safety were wrapped all around me.

That’s what God does. The Bible describes our God as “a very present help in time of trouble” (Psa.46:1). He’s right there, right then.  He is the Father who pities His children (Psa.103:13), and hears their cries (Psa 34:17). He is the one who offers His help to His people “right early” (Psa.46:5). Deuteronomy thirty-three, verse twenty-seven says he puts his everlasting arms beneath us.

Let me assure you, even if you’ve never felt the need to cry out to your Father or to feel his arms beneath you, there will come a time when a huge clatter will arise in your life. You will look in horror at the prospects before you and you will desperately want to cry out to Him.  Are you secure in the house of the Father? Will he hasten to your side when you cry? If not, will you contact me and let me help you find that security? I wish this safety for every reader.

…and now, another great Christmas contest entry:

As a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Jefferson Christian Academy, I had to come up with a service project for the 2009-2010 year. Little did I know how I would impact not only my students’ lives, but the sailors on the USS Donald Cook as well. We started our pen pal system in September and waited in anticipation for return letters. Two huge packages came in the mail!  Each student received a personal letter and even gifts! We immediately starting writing and drawing so our new friends would receive them before Christmas. These heartfelt and genuine letters and pictures helped improve the spirits of all on board, since they displayed the letters for all to see. We were eventually sent pictures by Commanding Officer Derek Granger about what it was like to fight piracy off the Coast of Africa, and I received a letter of gratitude for this project.

Bethany Tongate
Birmingham, AL

We loved having Christmas company in the cabin. We loved, loved having Benjamin (Hannah’s boyfriend) here for making Christmas merriment (and funny gingerbread people) with us. We were happy to have Tiffany for chai, and we always have fun with the huge Sunday night crowd around our tree! Heather and Lauren came by with merry mix and the Doziers were bearing gifts, too. Even Baxter the cat has come home from Tennessee this year for Christmas. But for the next 36 hours or so, it’s just the four of us (and, well…Baxter). This is the quiet part of Christmas that is my favorite time of the season. I know we can’t have this special foursome Christmas Eve forever. One day soon, some boy or girl will permanently make his/her way into the heart of the boy or the girl and we will have to get used to sharing for the holidays, and that is just how it should be. (…Although I do think that might be the toughest kind of holiday giving!) But, for now, we will relish the moments and enjoy with unhurried appreciation the time and the closeness of family together.

As we do this, Glenn and I do not forget that it’s because of the Father that we can enjoy peaceful and truly happy times with our children. It’s because of Him that our children love to be with us (at least we think they do). It’s because of His guidance that they are secure in Christ and, thus, so many sorrows and burdens have been lifted from our lives. It’s because of His Son that we have family unity—of goals and hopes and ambitions. It’s because of Him that we have every gift that’s waiting beneath the tree. It’s because of an empty tomb that we are at peace in our souls. It is the security of Christianity that makes life consequential. I am sad for those families who are missing the meaning. I’m sad because the big God-shaped hole leaves us volatile to all kinds of havoc and heartache as it remains unfilled. I’m so thankful during the quiet times for the One who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us (Eph. 3:20). That’s what He has done at our house–immeasurably more. And we are so grateful.

Now, for the Christmas Eve business: In case you haven’t heard, the Bless Your Heart Christmas contest is officially over. I gathered the most qualified Claus-metologists from three states and they carefully examined the entries. They were unaware, while judging, of the authors’ identities. They took into account creativity, writing skills, rule adherence and portrayal of family values. May I now congratulate Jan Coppett of Huntsville, Alabama for the award winning entry below. Jan gets to choose five free items from www.colleybooks.org. Jan is asked to notify me personally with her choices rather than ordering online. So many great entries. So hard to choose. But here’s the one chosen by the judges: More entries will be featured before the year ends.

The Winning Entry:

I was 9 or 10 that Christmas and I was wondering if there was a real Santa Claus or if indeed it was like some of my school friends said–Santa was only your Mama and Daddy. This Christmas I was having doubts. But my Mama, who never told a falsehood, said if you didn’t believe in him, then he simply quit coming to leave you presents. I couldn’t take the chance on that happening, could I? I didn’t want to appear foolish to my friends, but at the same time, just so as to cover my bases, I played along. After all, I had a little brother who was 8 years younger than I, and it was fun to see Santa through his eyes. Even if Santa was your parents, my brother was having such fun. I sure wasn’t going to spoil it for him. Besides, didn’t I have a 10 speed bike in my daydreams?

A few days before Christmas, my parents and brother and I left to visit some relatives in town. We were gone for hours, and when we got home, there in the living room was the 10 speed bike I had been dreaming of for weeks, my favorite color and everything! I couldn’t believe it, Santa had come early, just to show me he could! There was a note saying the bike was a little large to bring on his sleigh, so he’d decided to make a special trip and bring it before Christmas! How could it be? The doors of our house were shut and locked before we left and still were when we got home! There must be a Santa, for how else could this bike have gotten inside our house?

I never did know how they did it, but I will always remember the year that Santa gave me one more year to believe!

Jan Coppett