SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024 - INERTIA - AMAZING GRACE

 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024 - FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

I’ve been procrastinating Christmas this year.  I have a four-foot, white, artificial tree that was given to me by my sister.  I got it out of my closet yesterday.  It has three pieces - a base, a bottom, and a top layer.  It already has white lights on.  Yes, instant tree - and why didn’t I do this earlier?  My friend MN gave me some lights - not for the tree.  They are in a bag on the floor (where they have been for two weeks).

I have sent out six Christmas cards (with about another six pending).  Most of my friends will get a greeting on Christmas Day - through Facebook and email.  I don’t “have to” buy gifts.  I have two estranged children.  Three years ago, I sent them both some money, and one sent the money back, saying they didn’t want or need it.  I’ve sent money to three people who need extra help with some of their bills and my endowed scholarship. 

I got home Thursday afternoon at about five p.m. - and for six hours, I did little - one hour of cleaning and five hours on the computer.  (That has to be one of my New Year’s resolutions - less time on the computer doing games - especially watching old videos on Facebook)

Inertia sets in - and then about ten p.m. I realize I have things to do (like write this blog).  I dropped off three “Angel Tree” gifts at the nursing home; I visited my friends at Bridge (we generally have a good time), did nap #1, grocery-shopped for a friend who fell two days ago, and visited her.  Then home and nap #2, #3, and #4 (none lasted more than ten minutes).

*****

Individual days don’t seem very important to many people I see at the nursing home.  How was October 4th different from July 22nd?  Sure, the staff has put up Christmas decorations and trees - but (ho-hum), it’s just another day, or just another day in my 97 years of life.  I try to do creative things - like using chenille sticks (we used to call them pipe cleaners) and making bracelets. Or I might wear my Santa Suit or put on reindeer ears (or flashing lights).  

I have a poster on my wall that says, “Make every day a new adventure.”  I need to work on that!!

For those of you who have sung “Amazing Grace,” one verse says, “When we’ve been there (heaven) ten-thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.”  I get a little scared at that - so for eternity - we are just “hanging around heaven”? 

God is beyond “time” - time is a human concept - God always was and also will be.  (As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen).  

The only way I can understand eternity - is that it will be so awesome it can’t even be described.  God’s ways are not our ways.  God is infinite - and we aren’t (in our present state anyway).  

*****

So, I have to tell myself - get up, get going, don’t play Sudoku 50 times today, don’t play Words With Friends 50 times today.  Don’t do Duolingo for more than an hour a day.  

*****

Update:

I wrote this on Thursday night (December 19th).  Right after writing, I got the four-foot tree out of the closet and put it on a stand in my window.  I cleaned my living room a lot and even vacuumed.  

And I’m still listening to Handel’s Messiah this morning!!!  “For unto us a CHILD IS BORN”!!  

Life is good - God is good!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, December 21, 2024