Advent. Excitement.

Christmas came to school today.
Christmas decorations. Hats.
Party lunch. Delicious food.
Pretty clothes. Children's excitement.

In my heart it was too early
to celebrate. Your arrival
is yet to come: remembering your coming
now, and later for eternity.

But I smiled and laughed,rejoicing
in the children's happiness
and sense of fun, eagerly anticipating
presents and yet more merriment.

And in it all, I strove
to bring them close to you.
We watched Nativity films, presenting
You to the whole world.

There is no Christmas without Christ.
Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
The Saviour comes to save us ALL.
Let Christmas party hearts receive Him.

Advent. Satisfaction.

The end of this day
full of action, laughter,
satisfaction,
brought ponderings and a deep, deep sense of peace.

In my class,
questions of faith
became generated
by those who have little understanding of what is true and holy.

Minds were prompted
to consider
possibilities far beyond
this present world of eating, drinking and making merry.

Preparing to bring
good news to these children
I think of Christmas things.
Carols, candlelight, Christ in rags and baby scent.

My mind and heart
are filled with a desire to serve.
At close of day it is a joy
to bring a little help to one of ours who has little.

Being together,
working in weariness,
offering strength of arms and time,
brings us, a band of brothers,  great joy. And smiles.

At the close of this week
the beginning of Advent
there is a sense
of completion and satisfaction. Peace.

Out of the mouths of babes...

I have come to the part of the term where I teach the children about the real meaning of Easter.  Many of them are astounded to discover that it is not a festival about chocolate eggs but about an innocentt young man who died a criminal's death around 2000 years ago.
I can't assume any prior knowledge in these privileged, well-educated, mostly very wealthy middle-class white children. 
So, over a course of several weeks, I show them the wonderful animated film 'The Miracle Maker'.  Today, using artistic representations of the principal events, we recapped the story.  Slowly, piecing it together with a word of understanding here, a glimmer of knowledge there, most of the little group began to grasp what had happened during that sorrowful and joyous week.
It was while looking at a painting of the Last Supper, with the naked torso of Jesus high up above the table, looking down as he shared the bread and wine, that a gem of insight appeared.  Georgia remarked thoughtfully: 'I suppose, if the bread was his body, that when he broke up the bread and shared it out he was sharing himself with all the disciples.' Ross added, 'Yes, that is what I thought. And that if he was perfect, then everyone got a little piece of perfection in them.'
Doesn't this just echo Ephesians 4:5 'There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.' (The Message)
Bless them.

Good Morning Girls Women in The Word Wednesdays link up party

Of Gifts and Giving...

Gifts at Christmas – reminding us of the gift of Jesus, the gifts of the magi... tangible, actual gifts.

Gifts, giving. We think we know what that means.  Jesus talked about the value of giving in secret and giving without expecting any reward for doing so: in true giving, the giver does not expect anything in return. The dictionary gives ideas of handing over something (or someone) into someone else’s care – usually permanently.

We might not - perhaps should not – get our ‘gift’ back.

Do you think that, despite our best intentions, we can lose sight of this at Christmas?  Is there an insidious demand deep within ourselves, perhaps unnoticed until it is not met, that our giving is reciprocated so that we do in fact receive some reward. Not necessarily a physical gift, but recognition, appreciation, value, worth...?

How to give

Giving isn’t just about buying or creating actual gifts for someone.  We can give of ourselves.  We can give:

Our time – when we don’t feel we have enough of it for ourselves, let alone any to give away.

Our convenience – when it is troublesome to put ourselves out.

Our leisure – when our own plans are put to one side.

Our relaxation – when we give up our own comfort to give Jesus.

Our friendship – when it seems that others don’t reciprocate.

Giving also has the idea of yielding – we talk about ‘give and take’. Maybe we could give up our right to win arguments...?!  Maybe we could give forgiveness, especially where it is unlikely there will be reconciliation...?

Giving ourselves gifts, too: the gift of grace

Because giving also has the idea of giving in to pressure, or even collapsing, in the sense of breaking down and falling apart, sometimes we can be so busy ‘giving’ to others that we ‘give’ in this sense as well. We become tired, worn out - even, at times, broken. We work and toil and strive to fulfil our function and purpose as 'givers' that we forget to give ourselves gifts too: gifts of grace.

Giving also applies to giving permission.  We can give ourselves permission to be imperfect, to have ‘time off’ from Christmas preparations... can we also give permission to others to  speak, behave or just to BE THEMSELVES in a way free of demands and expectations this Christmas?  Just as Jesus did...

What gift of grace could you give yourself?   Grace to be imperfect. Grace of time. Grace of...?

What gift would you give Jesus? I asked this question at school, providing little gift tags for the children to write on, popping them into a bright gift bag next to the crib scene.  The ideas were all very sweet, but I liked this answer best: I would give him a great big hug!

What would YOU give him?

Of slowing down for Christmas...and a special gift

I teach. So end of term in December is incredibly hectic with all kinds of disruption to the timetable: carol services (and endless rehearsals); Christmas lunch, with the preparation for that; Christmas parties; nativity plays to take part in or watch, making all kinds of Christmas crafts...not to mention trying to find time to teach the children the real meaning of Christmas.
I am learning how to do this well.
I am learning to adapt the normal curriculum so we finish in plenty of time.
I am learning to choose fewer but more meaningful activities for the children to do.
I am learning not to stress if something isn't finished.
I am learning how to prepare my heart.
So this end of term was considerably less stressful than normal and so, on Day One of the holidays, I am relaxed enough to complete just one item on my 'to do' list (writing Christmas cards), spending the remaining time on thoughtful reflection.
Reflecting on what happened that first Christmas, and what it might look like today - thought-provoking versions of that story help me place myself in the midst of it.
Considering different aspects of the story: this year, it is that of giving. And gifts.
The end of term often brings Christmas gifts from the children. Some of them - most of them - have been chosen by busy mothers.  Chocolates, candles, sometimes more personal gifts: I run the gardening club at school so often receive garden related presents.  I have also, over the years, received some beautiful jewellery which I have worn over and over again, because it has been just right for me....indicative of a thoughtful parent.  However, the ones that stand out are those which the children have obviously made, or chosen. And yes, I do get quite a few 'thank you for being my teacher' items. This year, two placards each bearing the message: To teach is to touch a life'. One has stayed in my classroom, the other is small enough to join the ornaments on my tree at home.
Teaching brings many special memories, but it is also so consuming that, once a class has left my room, all my energies go into my new class. I find it difficult to remember if I taught a child the previous year or the previous decade.  So the gift I remember best is one I received from one of the children yesterday. Jack loves school - so much so that he was sad on the last day of term. He didn't want to stop coming every day and wrote in his card (lovingly handmade) to me: 'I like school and you might know it!' With the card came a little present: beautifully wrapped, with a delicate wire gift tag, it contained a pretty little bracelet in my favourite turquoise.  He had chosen, wrapped and presented it entirely on his own. He is nine years old. With that gift, I feel he gave me a little of himself. That's too special for words.

I can't find Jesus!

Echoing around my classroom
I heard
'I can't find Jesus!'

In a Christmas-themed wordsearch,
the children
couldn't find the Reason
for Christmas.

'Keep looking!' I urged them,
'Keep looking for Jesus and you
WILL find Him.'

I pray
they will not only find the Word on paper
but
they will also find the Word who longs
to live
in their hearts.

I pray that I, too,
will find Jesus
in Christmas preparations.

In the excitement of decorations
in the sweetness of good food
in the companionship of good friends
in the rejoicing and
in the laughter.

May Christmas lights remind us
to bring the Light of the World
into our hearts.

Not just at Christmas
but
for ever.