Renee Hawkley In Joy!

Sometimes I've wondered which comes first for me, faith in God or my country?   America was founded under a banner of religious freedom.  "My people" were searching for religious freedom and found it in America.   Without America, the story of "my people" and their faith in God would be very different.  I will be ever grateful for "my people," their story and the country I love.

The Missing Puzzle Piece by Renee Hawkley My 2020 Christmas gift to myself was a 1,000-piece puzzle of a winter village scene. I was a bit discouraged last night when the puzzle was nearly finished, and a single border piece was still missing. I mean, it’s just not Right to have one missing piece in a beautiful Thomas Kinkade work of art! Fast forward to this afternoon as I glanced at the puzzle table after returning home from the YMCA. There was the missing piece in plain sight near the edge of the table! I didn’t need to guess who had found it. My dear friend, Janice, who cleans my cozy abode once-a-month, had noticed a bitty part of it “blending in” with one of the tiles near the fireplace! I joyfully told her about the 999-piece puzzle that was “alone” without the single straight-edge piece that just happened to depict a cross at the tip of a church steeple in the village scene! It’s interesting how one little “tender mercy” can remind two of Christ’s followers that Jesus can compl...

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"  has been my favorite Christmas carol for as long as I can remember. I figured out why as the unfortunate events of 2020 spilled out bucket by bucket from January through December. It's because  "O Little Town of Bethlehem" focuses, not on the magnificence, the joy and grandeur associated with the entry of Jesus Christ, but on the stillness required by Each and Every One-of-us-at-a-time who chooses to kneel in reverence at His cradle, His cross and His empty tomb to receive His "unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15 "O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary, And, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises...

 " Christmas 2020"  by Renee Hawkley Even the grinchiest Grinch  Wouldn’t ask for a Christmas pandemic. Yet, here we are, amidst billions  Forging our way through 2020, Each traveler owning a unique story  Of trudging toward an unknown finish line,  Or of dropping out along the way. For me, 2020 is the first Christmas Ever when  “Busy” hasn’t occupied front stage with Family events, parties, church dinners,  Travel, school performances, choir rehearsals,  Baking, shopping, and On and On, Not in that particular order. It’s all so Very strange and Worth a ponder. I never tried a 1,000-piece puzzle before. I actually read a book  Cover to cover in December. Well, That’s never happened before! Unless you count Luke, chapter 2. Seven local grandchildren  Came on Friday in batches of three and then four To decorate my tree as usual. I told them it was the best event of 2020 And hugged each one of them tight!...

Hi Helen,  Thank you for sharing your "word of the year" ritual. This "small and simple thing" requires zero attention to resolutions, plans, deadlines, manuals, schedules or endless "To Do" lists. My word for 2021 was easy to choose.  It's "Peace." As this word "plays out" in my thoughts, words and deeds, it's certain to bless me and others, too!   Renee

 I wanted God. To repair the world. And He sent one carpenter.

Americans still have freedom of speech. I trust the Supreme Court to determine whether our country will stand for the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and our national motto, "In God we trust". . . or face annihilation like self-destructive civilizations of the past that somehow, someway lost their integrity of purpose and existence. PS. I don't mean the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.