BY DAWN REED
First, the good news. Dixie found Jesus.
Dixie is the precious and wonderful dog my beloved rescued over a year ago. We had not had a dog in over 30 years but fell head over paws in love. We are thankful to have her as a part of our family.
Really, Dixie finding Jesus was inevitable. She had watched four seasons of “The Chosen” with me. She heard me laugh and cry through each episode. She saw Jesus heal the lame, give sight to the blind, and calm the storm. She was also there when He fed thousands of people with the loaves and fish.
That is not the Jesus Dixie found. She discovered the pretend Baby Jesus under our Christmas tree.
It has been a tradition for many years to place a baby doll wrapped in cloths under our tree as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. A small bunch of raffia looks like real hay. Pretend Baby Jesus had been under our tree for months. Dixie just noticed him this week.
When Dixie found Jesus, at first, she barked. A lot. Then she quickly poked the baby with her paw. Perhaps to see if it was real. Suddenly she dragged Baby Jesus from His special spot on the fake hay, undoing the swaddling cloth.
I had never yelled, “Leave Jesus alone!” before in my life, but that is just what I did.
Gathering the raffia, I reswaddled the baby and put it back under the tree.
There is more. One of my mother’s favorite words was joy. We ran with it and copied it. Because of that, joy can be found all over the parsonage and not just at Christmas. Joy is on the mantel, plaques, coffee mugs and pillows.
Dixie recently became obsessed with my JOY pillows. Though she had countless other toys, every time I turned my back, she attacked my cushions with dogged determination trying to rip off the letters.
It was not lost on me that circumstances/people/dogs may try to steal our Jesus (fruit of the Spirit) and joy during the holiday season. It can happen before, during or after Christmas and into the new year.
What can we do when our year-end joy feels slightly mauled?
Do not measure your Christmas or year by anyone else’s – even if it looked great on social media. God has a plan for you and it is a good one (Jeremiah 29:11). He knows what He is doing.
Put good things in your head and heart. Just as too many cookies and too much junk food during the holidays affect our bodies, what our minds absorb affects our attitude and outlook. Guard what goes in (Philippians 4:8).
Spend time reading God’s Word. Even when you do not feel like it. The Bible is alive and active. No matter your age or situation, God will speak to you through His Word.
Take time to pray. In Psalm 51, David wrote a prayer of repentance. He needed forgiveness with a helping of refreshment. “Restore to me the joy of my salvation,” he penned in verse 12. Talk to the Lord about whatever ails you. He adores you. He will listen. And answer.
Go to church – the actual building. Fellowship is good. We need it.
Many Bible verses mention joy. Search a Bible app or concordance. Write them down as reminders. Psalm 126:3 is a keeper: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
I do have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, but I’m not sure how long it will stay on my pillows.