Old Man Wind is huffing and puffing today, beating a boisterous symphony on the wind chime pipes, giving the bamboo a cold aerobic workout as the sun filters down through their thin trunks and warms their slender pale green leaves. It really sounds like the wind chimes are having a jamboree. I love being able to hear them in the house bringing back memories of the wind chimes Chief and I purchased on our honeymoon and hung on the small porch off our bedroom.

As a magical dusk hovered over the landscape the sun rolled down the horizon late afternoon dressed in a beautiful fur coat with matching hat, her mittened hands resting in a mink muff, her feet warm in dainty wool lined boots. Father Sky, handsomely dressed in a Harris Tweed Hebridean brown herringbone jacket and matching trousers creased perfectly, kissed the sun on her cheek as he took her arm to escort her down the horizon.

As Father Sky and the sun walked down the sunset I could see he was wearing Christmas pattern socks. He does have a sense of humor occasionally. Mother Nature picked up her watercolor brushes and painted a golden spotlight of honey gold to illuminate the horizon, blending the gold watercolors into the higher clouds of aqua blue. The day ended in a beautiful wash of blue and gold as the cold windy darkness gave birth to the night. The night sky put on a tiara of diamonds and the moon took center stage as the pageant of the cold night began.

I was dozing in my reading chair in the lady den this afternoon enjoying the Christmas tree, remembering moments of Santa Clause from my childhood. My little brother and I shared a bedroom, sleeping in beautiful four poster oak twin beds. We’d push the beds together during Christmas, talking about Santa as we went to sleep, anticipating the childhood wonder of Christmas morning.

The earliest memory I recall of Christmas morning was when I was eight years old and my little brother was four years old. We woke early, our older two brothers still asleep upstairs. The house was dark, the living room illuminated softly by the Christmas tree lights. We quietly walked barefooted on the cold wooden floor. Before I even got close to the tree, I was thrilled to see a little pink metal kitchen set, a stove, refrigerator, and sink. We crept closer to the tree and I hear little brother gasp and start crying. Sitting on a large red radio flyer tricycle was a huge black and white teddy bear. The teddy bear was bigger than he was, sitting up on the trike’s seat, bear feet on the peddles, looking ready to ride off. Scared him to death. He ran back to our room, jumped in the bed, covered his head. I told him it was just a toy, a stuffed bear, but he wouldn’t budge till the sun came up. I also remember Santa brought all four of us a case of Heinz ketchup in the large metal cans that year. If you want have any McMurray blood running through your veins you’ll understand Santa’s gift of ketchup.

Was cleaning up the lady den this afternoon, finding puzzle pieces and crayons under the piano, and I came across Joyce Meyer’s book of 100 Inspirational Quotes. As I opened the book the first verse of scripture I read was Ecclesiastes 3:12-13. “I know that there is no thing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toll — this is the gift of God.” God has given us so many gifts, the ability to work so we can have food and drink and a roof over our heads. God wants us to be content with our present situation, cheerful and thankful for all our blessings that are manifested by his hands. We can’t manufacture our blessings, they are gifts given from a loving God.

Meyer says, in her words written beside the Ecclesiastes’ scripture, “Embrace the season of life you are in and squeeze all the joy out of it that you can.” I was telling my dearest friend that I’ve never been happier or more aware of my faith in God than I am now. I miss my beloved husband and still grieve for the warmth of his hands but I’m in a season of life where I can “squeeze all the joy” out of every day. I’m steadfast in my faith knowing I’ll be reunited in heaven with Chief and Rosie. I know each day is a gift and I’m thankful for every day and every breath.

This Christmas season let’s share the light of Jesus with others. Let’s be a mirror that reflects God’s light to the world. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 5:16.

“Believing in Santa Claus isn’t about believing in a person, it’s about believing in the magic of giving and love.”