December 13 – “Joy Day”

Yesterday was “Joy Day” at church.  We were celebrating the Third Sunday of Advents – the Turning Point Day that shows we are getting closer to Christmas – the Pink Candle Day – the Joy Day.  It’s actually one of my favorite days to teach.  Lots of fun to be had amidst blowing bubbles and rolling around on the floor, laughing.  No, really.  Literally … rolling around on the floor.  It’s an illustration for one of the points I was making.  Yep.  You never know what you will be getting at Seaside.

 

Speaking of Seaside … the church gave Chris a special thank you for her years of coordinating Bethlehem Street Market.  She received flowers, a gift certificate for some quilting supplies (or a quilting retreat somewhere in the United States.  Might involve travel.  Hmm).  She also received a really nice James Avery necklace.  Stephanie read Proverbs 31 (about a virtuous woman) and indicated that Chris really embodies it.  And the best part of the whole day?  Chris had no idea.  It was a complete surprise.  She kept asking me if I knew about it.  Always fun to put one over on her. 

 

After church we joined some Seasiders at Pit Stop Barbecue for lunch.  It was fun reminiscing about some of the things we heard at the market about how much the vendors appreciated the Seaside Way of welcoming them in. 

 

Back home we had a chance to be farmers of sorts.  Not that we had to get our hands dirty or anything.  Brennan brought over a handful of bell peppers and a question.  He just wanted to know if we thought they would be good to eat.  My initial reaction was “Try one and see,” but I knew that probably wouldn’t go over well in real farmer’s circles.  So we took them to Mama Chris to see what she thought.  She inspected them and ultimately gave her thumbs up.  Enjoy, Farmer Geran.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

Father, thank you for the expression of appreciation Chris got yesterday.  She does work hard to make that day a special one.  Amen.