We just returned home from a week at our beloved Greenbrier. We headed out last Sunday and returned yesterday. While we have been in West Virginia after Christmas and into the new year, we have never been there when the decorating for the season begins. So you can imagine our surprise when we woke up Monday morning to the lobby and lower level fully decorated for Christmas. It must have taken an army of people working overnight to accomplish this tremendous result. We were thrilled and, in fact, it got us in the mood for the coming Christmas season.
We met people from all over the country, as we usually do, and interacted with a number of folks who were there for the first time. Some of our old friends were there and we went out to dinner, as usual, with Greg and Deanna, who we have known for decades.
Since we have travelled to the Greenbrier for so many years, we consider it a second home. We have our usual haunts, favorite dinner places and even a favorite movie theatre that we visited twice this week. All in all, it’s a relaxing place for us that continues to draw us back year after year.
Each evening when we came “home”, there were additional decorations to see. One night as we were walking across the lobby, one of the new trees had a theme of letters to Santa Claus. The strands of garland were actually letters written by little children. Of course, there was a “mailbox” and various toys around the base of the tree.
I happened to pass close to the tree and started to read the various letters to Santa. As you can imagine, most of the letters had requests for video games, several were for expensive gifts and, no surprise here, there were the typical requests for dolls, games and average gifts. But one letter to Santa in particular caught my attention. Alexia, an 11 year old girl, wrote, “All is want is a happy family and a pair of gray, baggy sweat pants.” I was taken by surprise by the note. It was in stark contrast to many of the other notes on the tree. I tried to imagine what this child’s life was like.
Was there strife in the family? Were Alexia’s parents out of work? After all, West Virginia is, for the most part, a rather poor state – heavily into coal mining, long hours, a depressed economy and yet one of the most beautiful states in the country. Or was Alexia just raised to appreciate the things that are important in life. Somehow, I couldn’t help but think that she was content and grateful for what she had.
I immediately thought of a Bible verse that seemed to be perfect for tonight. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he professes that he has learned to live in every circumstance. He tells us, in Philippians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
My encouragement this evening is that God wants us to achieve contentment regardless of our circumstance. Paul clearly learned this lesson; and something tells me that Alexia has also. My prayer is that we will all practice contentment this Christmas season and focus on the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. What greater present could we receive than our Savior coming to take on the sins of the world and be the blood atonement for all of us. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…