Tag: Christmas

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Short Story: When All Is Not Bright

All is calm, all is bright...[1]

Ada found herself mouthing the words to the Christmas carol, but wondering in her heart why life didn’t feel calm or bright. Somehow, presents, family gathering, and as many cookies as she wanted still left her heart anything but calm.

Joy to the world...[2]

It’d been a hard year, filled with loss and health struggles. Ada felt exhausted after trying to do all the Christmas things. She didn’t feel joyful. Now, hearing happiness all around her made her only feel sadder somehow. And she felt bad about feeling bad; she had so many blessings too.

Ada walked towards the back of the room, in search of another cookie. On her way, she tripped.

The world went black.

Ada opened her eyes, not to the room filled with carolers, but to a dusty road. She squinted. There, in front of her, was a young couple. They looked like they belonged in a Nativity play, only more authentic.

“We’re almost to Bethlehem, Mary” Ada heard the man say.

“The baby’s coming, Joseph,” came a faint reply from the clearly pregnant woman by his side. She looked even more exhausted than Ada felt, like she’d been on a very long journey. “We’ll have to have him away from home.”

Away from home? Ada thought. Wasn’t Christmas all about being home for Christmas? Yet come to think of it, that first Christmas had Mary and Joseph away from their home in Nazareth…and Jesus leaving His home and glory in Heaven to become a man.

Ada watched, memorized, as a band of Roman soldiers passed by on the road. The other travelers so clearly resented them. I guess everything wasn’t merry and bright when Jesus came, Ada decided. In fact, hadn’t God used a census and taxes, of all things, to have Jesus born in Bethlehem? And didn’t the Roman occupation allow for the Gospel to go forth like it couldn’t have otherwise, as it brought a common language and passable roads to the whole empire?

The thought occurred to Ada that maybe God was using the tough things in her life–the things she resented–too. She couldn’t see how, but then, could the Jews back at Jesus’ birth?

Ada rubbed her head and closed her eyes for a second. Where was she anyway?

When Ada opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dark field. A smelly, woolly thing–was that a sheep?–brushed up against her. She could dimly make out the shape of men–they must be shepherds–nearby. Suddenly, an bright being–an angel!–appeared overhead.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,”[3] the angel said.

The angel said more, but Ada didn’t get to hear it.

She’d blinked, and found herself back in the room of Christmas caroling. No one had noticed her fall in the back of the room. The group was still singing Joy to the World.

Joy to the World. After her dream, Ada knew the joy of that first Christmas wasn’t because life was easy, people were home for Christmas, or there were presents under the tree. It didn’t come from lights or even cookies. Jesus didn’t save the people from the hardships of life. Not from the Romans. Not from tough situations. Mary’s life didn’t become easy because of Jesus’ birth. Mary would one day have to watch her son die. The joy the angel spoke of was because a Savior had been born.

Jesus came to save us from sin and death. He brought eternal life to those who would receive Him. That life means knowing God now, in life’s sadness and challenges, and one day for all eternity in Heaven, where the world will truly be bright, as the suffering and death sin brought will be completely wiped away forever.

Ada realized that her days didn’t have to be “merry and bright,”[5] but because Jesus came, Christmas, and every day, could be filled with a joy that can exist anywhere–even in a dirty stable. A joy that came from knowing that Heaven, not Hell, was her eternal destination. A joy that can only be found by believing on the Savior that has been born.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)

[1] Silent Night

[2] Joy to the World

[3] Luke 2:10b-11, ESV

[4] Joy to the World

[5] White Christmas

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Story: Comparing Gifts

gift

Susie felt perfectly happy with the Christmas gift she’d been given…until she saw what her sister had received. Mary had gotten a brand new wagon! Suddenly, her gift–a glittery apron, rolling pin, cookie cutters, and oven mitts–looked unimpressive.

All through Christmas dinner and afternoon play time, Susie pouted, missing out on enjoying the special food and fun time. Oh, how she wished she could have her sister’s special gift! She finally took the problem to her father.

“Why did Mary get that?” she whined. “I wish I could have that gift instead of this one.”

Susie’s father scooped his daughter up into his arms. “Susie, Dear, I gave each of my daughters just what she would need. Can’t you trust me?”

Susie sighed, not sure her father hadn’t made a mistake. But looking into his eyes, she knew she could trust him. She hopped down, comforted and with a new mission: to use the gift she’d been given.

Over the next few weeks, Susie began discovering the joy of baking. To her surprise, she could make delicious food. Equally to her surprise, a dear friend who lived down the street got sick. Susie began making meals for her…and Mary transported them over in her wagon. Truly, their father had given each one just what they’d need.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12: 4-8 (ESV)

 

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Math, Christmas Lights, & the Creator

Christmas Lights

Watching Christmas light shows has become a holiday tradition for many. But few stop to think of all the math that goes into these spectacular displays.

Strands per Outlet or Lights per Circuit

When hanging a lot of lights, you want to make sure you don’t blow a circuit! Bonfe offers this formula to help you figure out how many strands can go in each outlet: # of strands = circuit amperage ÷ strand amperage. We could also use algebra to write this same thing like this: n = c/s or y = z/x. We’re just using letters to stand for the different values, and a fraction to stand for division. Another site says to only use up to 80% of what your circuit can handle as a safety factor. Notice the percents!

Timing

Some light shows include timing with music. Syncing music with a light show requires precision that can be accomplished through various software programs that use math to determine when different effects and lights turn on and off at different moments in the show. In this case, programming the time in seconds that the lights sync with the music includes math!

Cost & Number

The financial cost of Christmas decorations can add up fast! Setting a budget and keeping track of how much money is spent uses addition and subtraction…as well as some rounding skills to keep an approximate total in the store. And how many lights do you need to decorate that garage anyway? Math can help you answer that!

Remember…

    As you drive by light displays this year, remember that math applies outside of a textbook. It even aids with Christmas lights.

    More importantly, think about why math applies. Why can we even know how many amps a string of light will require? It’s because electricity operates in a consistent fashion. Why? Because God created and sustains an orderly universe.

    And that same Creator and Sustainer became a man to make a way for us to know Him by paying for our sin Himself.

    Now that’s something to remember this Christmas and always.