Ironically, for the last two weeks in my Ladies’ small group we have prayed for each other not to get too “wrapped up” in all the seasonal “To Do’s.” Yet, on Monday I sat on my couch suffocating under a mound of papers to be graded, while my mind rattled off a list of “things to do” so long I lost room in my brain for it all… not the least of which was the pressure that we had yet to get one Christmas gift (just call us, Mr. & Mrs. Procrasta –Clause.) I was “in the zone,” as Doug likes to say, purely driven by the “all-business” sense of plowing through my “To Do’s.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes getting “in the zone” is good and productive and so much can be accomplished… but sometimes getting “in the zone” can be not-so-good. It can be distancing, and so much can be lost. I know in that moment I was losing sight of the Joy, Love, Truth and Gift of Christmas.

And Like an answered prayer, the Lord gave me this gentle reminder that awed me….

As I sat on the couch under my mounds of “To Do’s” Grace came from the kitchen holding out something small in her hand, saying: “Mama, I found the cross!”

“Huh?” I said, “Here, let me see what you’ve got there.”

“It’s the cross!” she replied and placed it in my hand.

Talk about profound moments of wonder. Through the eyes of a child this very ordinary thing was transformed into a symbol of our God’s greatest gift to us. Had I found this on the floor as she had I would have thrown it away without a second look.

I wonder how often the Lord is subtly showing us of his love in these ordinary moments or ordinary things and we simply overlook them in the business of our “To Do’s?”

I am reminded to look for Him always and everywhere and especially not to lose sight of Him in this season… the celebration of human-kind receiving the greatest gift ever given— the birth of the King who would save us all.

I am keeping this little cross. It will go in Gracie’s scrap book as a reminder of what we can see with child-like faith…

Then I got to thinking— let’s have some FUN with this!

Here is the contest: I have a $10 gift card to Starbucks Coffee (dosen’t everbody like Starbucks???? It’s even Gracie’s Fav!) for the first person who can correctly guess what Gracie handed me as the cross. It is pictured to the right. Your guess must be posted here at the website in the comments section below— no Facebook, email or cell-phone calling entries will count!!!

SO click on “make a comment” and have fun guessing!

In this season of Joy I encourage you with a gentle reminder to look for the Lord in the ordinary and not get lost in your “To Do’s” too.