Once upon a time there was a woman, a strong godly woman who loved the Lord her God with all her heart. It was December 16th, 9 days before Christmas. She was sitting in her home all alone. She was dreaming of times past, when her home was full of children, laughter, and the excitement of Christmas. Her family would gather in the kitchen to bake cookies together. Their tree was decorated to perfection, at least to her family if was perfect. It was covered with ornaments from days gone by. Each ornament represented a vacation, or a stage of life her children were in. They were collected over 26 years, so their tree held many memories.
The food was so good. Each year there were favorite recipes made for each person in the family. Rich, sinful food baked with the love that only a mom can add into such decadent dishes. As she sat on her sofa that night she could almost smell the food baking as the memories flowed.
There were friends coming in and out like a revolving door, all anxious to share in the festivities at her home. Laughter rang so loud as they told the same jokes, reminisced about the same memories year after year, each year adding new memories to the collection of laughter and fun they shared.
She had a dog that she loved dearly. He love Christmas. As soon as the tree came out, he knew what was happening. He would lay on his bed, adoring the tree after it was decorated. And on Christmas morning he knew how to open his own gifts. He was a huge part of the laughter and fun of the season now gone by.
But this year was entirely different. There was no tree, the ornaments in their boxes, no baking and little laughter. The kids had all grown up and moved on, taking their friends with them. Their favorite dog had gone on to heaven to wait on them. Her husband had walked away a while ago, and she had fallen in love with a new man. He was living hundreds of miles away. His family needed him far more than she did, so leaving him was a sacrifice she was willing to make for the sake of those who loved him and needed him more.
She had lost her job, the job she loved with her whole heart. So her co workers were not around to celebrate Christmas with her. Oh, she had a new job but it wasn't the same. She had traded her happiness for a little more money. The women she loved and respected were no longer in her life. Most of them had moved on, though her life had stopped the last time she walked out the door. She missed those women with her whole heart, for they always played a large part in her Christmas celebration.
The quiet of her home made tears flow down her cheeks. So grateful for years gone by, for the happiness and love she had shared, the memories brought a smile to her face.
Then suddenly a simple truth crossed her mind. It was a truth she would carry with her for days to come. You see, her God that she loved and adored had stripped her bare of all things she adored. All that was left was Him. Her bare bones, and her God. Excitement began to fill her soul as she realized how much He loved her. He loved her so much that He had given her this new great mission. Her mission was to start her life over again from a blank slate. Just her and her precious God. He really was all she needed. She began to realize that with her entire heart and soul. He was all she needed. He had equipped her for years for this day, this day that she was stripped to her bare bones. Now the rebuilding would begin, for He gave her Hope and a future. Her new life would be just as beautiful as her old life. But it would be different. Gratitude and excitement filled her heart as she wiped away her tears. She could not wait to see what the future holds, for God had called her to Himself, and written His name on her heart. And she began to dance, the excitement could not be contained so she danced.
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