By Brenda Cannon Henley
I love this time of the year. December is a big month, not only because it is Christmas time, but also because our family celebrates seven birthdays during this busy time. I have always felt a little cheated about having a December 23rd birthday because everyone I know and love is partied out, spent out, and worn out from the Christmas rush. Seldom have I ever had much attention paid to my special day because it is just too close to the big day. But after 71 of them, I have rather gotten accustomed to getting nothing, having a gift wrapped in Christmas paper, or the worst saying of all, “Well, Honey, you were born just too close to Christmas, so this gift will have to do for both.” “Not fair,” would be my reply and I honestly believe that most December babies will agree with me.

For safety’s sake, let me add quickly that my immediate family does celebrate my birthday and I don’t get those gifts wrapped in red and green. My girls labor to find something really special and it is wrapped in pink blue, yellow, or other nice pastel colors.

When I began my shopping this year for my grandchildren, children, and friends, I realized how many things had changed since this time last year. As I addressed pretty Texas Christmas cards, I had to mark so many names on my address list because of deaths. One thing I have learned well during these nearly 72 years of life and that is, “Nothing much remains the same.” Life changes almost daily now like the rhythm of the waves washing up on the shores of the beloved Gulf of Mexico on the Bolivar Peninsula. People die, others move away, misunderstandings occur, couples divorce and people side with one or the other, financial woes occur, jobs play out, people retire, and health issues cause drastic change.

Wise people learn to deal with those changes and trust the Almighty God to keep His plan working in their lives. Many years ago now, I read a very helpful book, Changepoints, and the gist of the writing was that in every life there will be times when change occurs, sometimes slowly and sometimes very quickly. Lives all have change and I know that to be true. If we wait long enough, are patient enough, and care enough, we can see that change can be very good if we let God work His course. The very thing that seems unbearable, unfair, devastating at the time, can turn and work for good.

I am reminded of the story of Joseph in the Bible. He was a good young man and wanted to serve God. His brothers were not so kind. They actually sold him into slavery, but Joseph kept his head about it, never gave in to peer pressure, served and loved God, and ended up being second in command of Egypt. Because of a great famine, his brothers had to come to him for food to eat. His heart remained right and he forgive them, greeted them warmly and provided for them. The flagship or key verse to me of this entire story is Genesis 50:20 where Jospeh is quoted as saying, “You, (meaning his very own flesh and blood) meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Read Joseph’s complete story to see how he learned to deal with change and came out smelling like a rose.

May I, in all fairness, add a word of warning here? Ted had an Amarillo expression and it is just too fitting not to use. “Watch out, you big talking, high stepping folks out there. Change can come to your life, too.” What he meant I think is that you may be living high on the hog right now, acting haughty, see yourself as better than others, and act as though you know everything, but God knows all about it and believe me when I say, He has ways of humbling the biggest, proudest, most successful, energetic, and beautiful. Finances can dissolve overnight, divorce happens, children rebel, people die, illness assaults, and change is certainly no respecter of persons. Take care and work with God and not against Him. If you are truly serving Him, you won’t feel you are so far above everyone else you might know.

Merry Christmas to all of our faithful readers from one who has experienced more change in the last twelve months than ever in a complete lifetime.

(published 12/9/2014)

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, at
[email protected], or by using the contact form below.

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