Monday, December 31, 2018

Never Once, Did We Ever Walk Alone

It was Christmas socks that would make a "favorite photo", and it was that "favorite photo" that would set the tone for my New Year's Eve reflections.   
I could spend hours writing stories about the places these feet have walked in 2018 (and in some cases I have).  These feet belong to those nearest and dearest to me.  
In our walking, we love deeply and laugh heartily.  In our walking, we face challenges and endure, together. 
The places we walk always lead us to friends, sometimes new and sometimes old.  And almost always, we walk with purpose and a mission greater than ourselves.  Some of my greatest joys and fears have come while walking "in step" and "alongside" of them. 
There are moments where we take giant leaps, but most days we plod along, one small step at a time. From the smallest feet (my sweet Haddie Lou) to the biggest feet, from the fastest feet to the slowest feet, we are...
Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us
Kneeling on this battleground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone
Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful!
Matt Redman Lyrics - Never Once
Christmas socks and all, we are walking into 2019 together, and never alone!
Happy New Year,
Crystal





Tuesday, December 11, 2018

COME TO THE TABLE



The evergreens and lanterns lining the walk-way offered a warm-glow welcome to all who entered.  Once inside, A beautiful winter-wonderland beckoned us all...
COME TO THE TABLE and Celebrate....


Friendship
Family
Joy
Sharing
Merriment
Peace
Dreams
Tradition
Giving
Creation 
Stillness 

To the wife and mother who is really gifted at creating beautiful things, but struggles at the thought of a large gathering and people she doesn't know,  she "just happens" to sit next to the woman who makes her feel at ease and joyful.  When the night is over, a kindred spirit has been found.  

To the young professional who thanks us for including her -- she also "just happens" to sit next to the woman who offers her just what she needs.  Kindness and Passion for her profession!  She later sent me a note expressing, "it was incredible to sit at a table filled with such confident, inspiring women".  

To the woman and friend who saw fit to fill a tin with cookies, and deliver it to a friend who couldn't be there because she is often just physically unable to get out. 

To the coordinators of the event itself,  hard work is always rewarding when you get to see first hand so many expressions of awe and joy and wonder.  As a point person for the event, I received a lot of compliments and thanks.  BUT, I learned a long time ago, it isn't about how good "I" can be, rather, it is about the amazingly good people surrounding me.  I am grateful for the love and thanks offered towards such a fine affair, but I am beyond grateful for all the ladies who collectively and sacrificially gave of their time, their resources and their talents.  To the hostess and the table setters, to the decorators and silver polishers, to the soup makers and the bread buyers, and ALL  who expressed their joy of the season thru making invitations and baking cookies to share...YOU are the amazingly good people around me.   

 As fulfilling as it is to create fun, festive, beautiful and delicious Christmas Cookies, it is really so much more than a cookie exchange.   In the celebration, whether simple or elaborate, in our own unique styles, we find community and connection, we inspire other women, and most importantly, those places in all of us that feel void or uncertain, are encouraged.  Something very special happens when we COME TO THE TABLE with an open and willing heart, ready to celebrate.    




This Christmas Season may you savor the goodness of all those cookies, but more importantly, may you savor the gifts in COMING TO THE TABLE.  

Merry Christmas
Crystal