01/10/09 - 11:04AM(A bit of a disclaimer if you will;
I removed this post earlier because I was afraid it might embarrass my husband, might be misunderstood, might sound...a little over the top. Upon several requests, I am re-posting it. Those of you who know him know that I am understating if anything....)
We have a tradition in our house...it is this:
On Christmas morning when everyone is first up and before we go down to the living room, we stop on the stairs...the landing, just out of sight of the tree...(when we had no stairs, all the kids came in and sat on our bed)...and my husband...the gentle, and wise man of God and father that he is, tells the story of Christmas...the real story of Who He is and why He came...and how that impacts our world, our family...how it makes all the difference.
He has done this for some 25+ years...for as long as we have had children of any age to understand at all. Always done with their age level in mind...thoughtfully and spirit filled....one of the many ways he has changed lives...our lives...the lives of myself, my mom and each of my kids, everyone who really hears him....and now its time for another generation.
This is the first year that Jada has been old enough to know what awaits downstairs and at the same time old enough to wait and to listen...and to understand that this day... Christmas Day and what it represents...is bigger than her, bigger than us...it is bigger than the whole world.
This man.... that God has given me as a husband, my children as a father and now my granddaughter as a grandfather....has the uncanny ability...the anointing if you will...to speak Life...literally, into the lives of those he comes in contact with...be it at work, in the grocery store, at the hair salon, on the bike trail, where ever he spends any time...and you know what...people long to hear Life...they crave food for their spirits and don't even know what it is...or why the sound of his words help them.
He is real and amazing and filled with God...and overflowing with a God given ability to deposit Christ into hearts and spirits. There are so few who can do this...it stuns me...literally stuns me to hear what is perpetrated as Life to those who are so desperate for it, by those who have NO idea whatsoever how to impart Christ. .....yet my household is incredibly blessed, this man, this gifted man, this master of impartation, sits today...in suburbia USA, on the stairs on Christmas morning...imparting Life into those around him who at this moment happen to be his family...a gift hidden from the world...yet oh so powerful.
I came to know the Lord through this voice, I mean really know the Lord. I came to know His house and His purpose through words spoken from this Christ filled heart,... as have many many others. I love to hear it still, Life that is, I need to hear it always...Life never grows old and never ceases to be birthed in us if we have opportunity to hear and receive.
... and now he begins again...with a new little heart....
This quote from the latest Thoene book "The Eighth Shepherd" really said it for me....
"I can hear his voice creating a miracle in my heart..."
Bodie & Brock Thoene- The Eighth Shepherd
Roms. 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
12 comments:
How will they hear indeed...
You are a blessed woman.
and Miss J has a wonderful Poppa.
A Miracle right here on earth along with the one in your heart - lucky girl...
Beautiful post, Cheryl. A gift hidden from the world, but not to the Father. It's encouraging to hear someone so beautifully affirming her spouse even after the kids are grown and having kids of their own. Thanks for sharing!
what a beautiful tradition, i wish i had know of it 20 years ago. you are indeed blessed.
I'm so glad you decided to post this story, it is beautiful and needs to be told. It is not "over the top" but filled with love to your wonderful husband but mostly to God.
This will not only live in the hearts of your family who have been blessed by this tradition, but to all of us who are privileged to read of it. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Cheryl,
Rejoicing with you for such a wonderful godly husband. You're so right - we need to hear life-giving words, don't we? {Oh, that all women would have such a spouse!}
Hope to see you soon!
hugs,
Vicki
This post has reduced me to tears. How blessed you are to have a husband who is so in love with the Lord...and willing to share with all. It does take a special gift to "impart" as you say, His love and knowledge to those willing to listen. I hope your husband is not embarrassed by this post, for it is a lesson for us all to be more passionate about sharing the life-giving Love we've been given! Thanks for sharing!!
How blessed you are to have this wonderful God filled man in your lives. It is never over the top to be a man after God's own heart.
Embarass him never...he is an example to all!
I love this touching tradition and Cheryl as you know, you are so blessed. What a wonderful treasure to be able to witness the way your husband has passed on these words of life to your children and grandchildren! A blessing indeed! : )
this post is awesome! I hope i marry someone just like that!! you are all blessed by him, thank you for sharing that blessing...
still praying for your daughter!
This is a wonderful post to share. When someone has THE GIFT, there's no hiding it ... His Light just has to shine. The light of Christ shines brightly through your dear husband. You are blessed as a family.
A wonderful lesson about what the life with Christ can be.
"how shall they hear without a preacher?"
Not everybody is given the gift of your husband.
We can all do something. Say grace, a prayer before bedtime, a Biblical storybook.
I guess we cannot wait. The word must be a part of the children's growing up.
I'd like to sit there in the staircase Christmas Morning.
A real staircase to Heaven.
From Felisol
Glad you changed your mind...what a fantastic post...what a legacy he builds!
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