A Christmas Scroll

Author: Dione Bell

I love the holidays!  Each year, I look forward to our family traditions, spending time with loved ones, and eating some good food.  But there are always those unexpected moments - I mean no one ever sees them coming-- it makes you say, "Wow…really?!" 

 

I must admit, this year I thought the wow-factor of the traditional Thanksgiving meal would have been my creamy chicken potato soup appetizer. Or even the elaborate assortment of holiday deserts. But, oh no, there was something that even topped all of that this year. 

 

After the meal, while everyone was lounging and waiting for the upcoming football game, my daughter comes in with an announcement.  Not, just any announcement - but a breaking news type announcement.  I thought to myself what was so important for her to call for everyone's attention?  She gathers the family together, clears her throat, and puts on one of the greatest performances ever.  She has taken the cardboard roll from two toilet tissue rolls, taped them to sheets of notebook paper, and has created a Christmas list scroll!  That's right; you read it correctly - a scroll!  Using her best handwriting and in BIG PRINT, she has written everything that she wants for Christmas; and in that brief span of time, she unveiled the scroll and proceeded to highlight everything on her list.  Her presentation was not only surprising, but phenomenal.  Oscars here we come!  Then as a visual reminder, she left the scroll on the ottoman in the middle of the room unrolled for all to see.  By the end, she had our family (especially the grandparents) eating out of her hands.  After she left, I was summoned back in the room by our guests to make sure that her Christmas included everything written on that scroll. 

 

In reflecting on that moment, one which today still overwhelms me with laughter, I'm reminded of Habakkuk 2: 2-3.  In the Message Bible, the passage reads, "Write this.  Write what you see.  Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.  This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.  It aches for the coming-it can hardly wait!  And it doesn't lie.  If it seems slow in coming, wait.  It's on its way.  It will come right on time."

 

As we look forward to Christmas and the New Year, what's on your Christmas scroll?  What things would you like to see materialize in your life?  I am not talking about having a New Year's "resolution".  I am talking about a New Year's "reality".  I challenge you to take a page from my daughter's book and make your desires known.  What do you need God to do in your life?  Whatever it is, write it down - in big block letters if you have to - and make it plain.  You may not choose to write on a cardboard scroll, it may be a journal or a sticky note.  You may even want to Facebook it or tweet it.  Regardless, write it down!  And post it somewhere as a reminder and testament as to what God will do for you in the days ahead.   

 

During this holiday season, set aside some quiet time with the Lord consulting Him on your Christmas scroll and watch with great expectation as God brings your requests to pass.