Looking Forward.

My fingers are flying over the keyboard because a mass production of meatballs is beckoning me! I can almost taste our Italian Christmas dinner.

I’m looking forward to it.

I’m also eager to get to the kitchen and bake cinnamon loaves. Aah, the smell that will emanate from the oven!

I’m looking forward to it.

Just a few more presents to wrap. The sight of sparkly red ribbon-ed packages under the tree.

I’m looking forward to it.

Cards have yet to be addressed. Sweet memories will flood me as I pen the addresses of dear ones we don’t see enough.

I’m looking forward to it.

I glance down at the keyboard. My black finger nails look dirty. They’re not. They’re full of black nail polish. A call came in late from a friend. Activities for a local girls home had to be modified. There was a last minute change and my friend needed bodies to help. So,last night several women from our church provided manicures to 30 young ladies. Their ages ranged from 10 to 17. Black was their color of choice.

As some of them shared their stories (one 11 year old girl hadn’t seen her parents in two years) it was clear one should steer from asking questions like, “What are you doing for Christmas?”

I couldn’t help but wonder what do these young girls have to look forward to?

The burden in my heart made it seem as though the black on their fingers had less to do with fashion and more to do with the future. Their fractured lives left me with a fractured heart.

God has begun a work in me regarding these young girls. I’m not sure where it will land. I do know this. The Lord gave me a gift in that moment of service. He reminded me that I am blessed.

I am blessed beyond belief.

How can I can forget that? Chalk it up to being an idiot or the busyness of “Christmas Crazies”. Whatever it is, sometimes the near approach of Christmas can feel more like a looming deadline than a celebration.

God reminded me of all that I have to look forward to. He has given many blessings for today and He has paved the way for unimaginable blessings in our future home called heaven.

Christmas is right around the corner. It will find me praying for those precious girls and thanking Him for His many, many blessings.