As I sit here …in the home I grew up in…thinking of Christmas.
My heart and mind is full.
I am so blessed to have this place to call home. I was blessed with a good Mother, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa. They are close in my heart and thoughts and yes memories tonight.
Mother brings to mind presents LOTS of wonderful presents, Daddy his love of the Christmas tree and this time of year, Grandma wonderful meals, and Grandpa all the animals…horses, sheep, dogs, the barn and all the work…of hay and feed and muddy boots, a warm wood stove, breaking ice in the troughs…
I look across towards Grandma’s, and with my eyes see darkness…but in my spirit I see life and light and love and peace and goodness in the old farm place that still stands.
I remember the year Daddy sent me to town to purchase ornaments for the Christmas tree and the beautiful tree we put up. Of the time we hunted for a real cedar tree at the Scout Camp and my Daddy called my Mother “Bet” short for Betty:-)…
Grandma’s wonderful homemade candies. They were the best. She worked for weeks making all of the family their own box of assorted candies.
But the most precious memory is of Christmas Eve every year. We would gather as a family…for a meal at one of the uncles homes and sometimes the cousins (we took turn as hosts) .
My earliest memory of a Delk family gathering was at Christmas time…We had eaten a wonderful meal prepared by my Mother, my Aunts and Grandma…. I think I was around 8 years old …and I was just learning to read. My Aunt Barbara helped me read the Christmas Story from Luke Chapter 2 (KJV) This was a tradition with our family that came thru my Grandma’s side I believe…Once the story was read we would recite the “Lord’s Prayer” talk about our blessings and what we were thankful for…and then open presents.
I miss Grandma, Grandpa , Daddy and my Mother. I shall all ways treasure in my heart the traditions I grew up with. And my loved ones now gone on…
Drover is laying at my feet sleeping. Les has gone to bed. The tree is beautiful. Sheep bells are softly tinkling in the distance. Stars and planets are lighting the dark night sky. A ewe softly calls to her lambs…
Not much different from some 2000 years ago when our Savior was born in a little no where place called Bethlehem. Shepherds were in their fields keeping watch over their flocks. I can imagine the Angels sudden appearance in the night time sky. What wonder, fear and awe they must have caused the Shepherds!
I can see in my imagination the Shepherds haste to go and see what they had been told about. They are surprised and pleased to find The Baby” as it had been told to them in a manager surrounded by livestock with The Babe’s parents watching over him. How after they had worshiped they returned to their jobs and were forever changed by this blessed event. What tales they must have told all their lives of this strange wonderful event. God had chosen the low the people of no importance to the world to reveal His precious Son, and wonderful plan of salvation.
The Mother of this child Mary…must have wondered at all this… in spite of her knowledge of all the miraculous events leading up to her pregnancy and the birth of this Baby…She had to have wondered at the prophesies told of this Child. I am sure she thought of what the future held and and all that would happen…
Mary did you know? How could you know.
And now Jesus sits at the Right Hand of God The Father and is our Advocate!
If you have not asked Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Do it now . do not wait. Just say “Lord Jesus come into my heart! I make you my Lord and Savior!” “Forgive me of my sins” In Jesus name Amen!”
Yes it is that simple.
Merry Christmas to everyone!
From All of us here at Maple Grove Farm! 
2016…Drover BOO Puppies!
