Going Postal at Christmas

Last Saturday, I had to go to the post office to mail Christmas presents.

I know.  What was I thinking?

I used to be the kind of person who had Christmas cards out by the first of December and gifts wrapped, packed, and shipped no later than December's first weekend.  I considered it my personal gift to postal employees everywhere to plan ahead and help them out during this busy season.

I was terribly proud of myself for being so organized.  And smug.  But life got in the way this year, and pride goeth before destruction and all that, so I was ready to show up at my local post office and do penance for my years of smugness.

And was delightfully surprised.

The employees at my local post office had gone all out for their customers, determined to send each one away smiling.  They had a television set up showing How The Grinch Stole Christmas. (Earlier in the season I had stopped in and found It's a Wonderful Life playing on continuous loop.  The woman at the counter said it helped everyone walk away smiling because everyone seems to have a favorite line.)

There was popcorn and candy at the counter, and the employees were joking and laughing with each of us pathetic, bedraggled, delinquent package mailers.  Customers started laughing and talking with one another.  One woman told us all that she was shipping copies of her family history out to her relatives.  We all shared in the joy of the beautiful gift she was giving.

We shared in community in my little local post office on the last Saturday before Christmas.

This past year it has been a blessing, for me, sharing within the Gratitude Community.  God's gifts are so abundant and beautiful, and I am thankful to have been given eyes to see and the invitation from Ann to count many of them.

As I get ready to celebrate family-community during Christmas, New Year's, and the days leading up to my daughter's wedding, I will likely be an infrequent visitor to blog world.  I have a couple of short posts queued and one rattling around in my brain; otherwise I may not be around much in the weeks ahead.

So...let me wish each of you kind readers a beautiful and blessed Christmas.  I look forward to reading more from you in the new year.  I am grateful for each of you.

Emmanuel--God is with us!

Joining Ann's beautiful Gratitude Community once again:

675.  Post office employees committed to spreading cheer on the Saturday before Christmas.

676.  Son making all his train and bus connections and returning safely from visit with sister.

677.  Getting to do this with Ethel:

(A friend from church stopped by, and I asked him just how Presbyterian we looked.  His answer?  Not very!)

678.  Chili dinner together with husbands before heading out to brave the cold.  (Wait a minute—if we’re Lucy and Ethel, does that make them Ricky and Fred?)

679.  Call from Army recruiter; moving the ball and inch forward in son’s plans.

680.  Peanut brittle-gift from pastor and wife.  My joy is now complete!

681.  Early Christmas celebration with husband’s family—sweetness and joy.

682.  Church Christmas concert—being reminded, once again, how incredibly blessed my church is to be filled with so many talented musicians.

683.  Monday morning conflict that didn’t erupt into anger--all grace; nothing but grace.

684.  Friends who text and pray.

685.  The beautiful way Ethel loves my son.