Women's Christmas Breakfast 2011

Each table glistened with a touch of Christmas cheer. Each plate eagerly awaited its chance to be filled with the mouth-watering breakfast foods prepared by the Livingston ladies. Each woman wondered why God brought her here this morning, to the Winterset Community Church Women’s Christmas Breakfast. Some were friends, some were new faces, and all were welcome. As the morning’s hostess Juli Agan took the stage, the ladies quieted their chatter and settled in for the always anticipated event.

In so many ways, the holiday season can be glossed over in the busyness of parties, presents, and getting that to-do list full of check marks (instead of empty boxes). Sometimes, the heart of who Christ is and why He came can be remembered, but not really locked in. Though she admitted her nervousness, our pastor’s wife, Susan, felt God asked her to share her story with the ladies that morning. With her words, her honesty, and her tears, Susan helped “lock in” the understanding of why baby Jesus was born in a manger . . . and why He grew up . . . and why He died to bring us back into a relationship with Him. Do you know why? Because we can’t do this on our own.

Even to the best of people, best of families, best of intentions, life can be tough. That’s the truth of living in a broken world. But the Bible promises that God works all things to our good. Susan showed us that we may not see the good right away; that it may take time to be thankful for the heartaches and hardships scattered along our paths.

“If I hadn’t experienced the depths of the opposite, I don’t think I could experience the indescribable joy that I feel now as I watch my granddaughters play,” Susan shared.

Moments later, the two little blue-eyed blondes appeared on the overhead projector screens—dressed for Christmas and sitting in front of their family Christmas tree. Music began, and the two little girls sang along to the Laura Story song, “Blessings.” The ladies giggled as the little one pulled at her tights and stomped her legs in glee (and smiled as her big sister completely ignored her and stuck to the program).

What a blessing to hear from the heart of our pastor’s wife and to know God alone gave her the courage to tell more than 100 women the story of her life.

You can imagine as our guest singer took the stage, it took her a few moments to compose herself. But just as she’d hoped to do, Valerie Huntley helped close the breakfast with a heart of joy and thankfulness. And as we hope ever year, we pray that God spoke to the heart of each woman in attendance and left a special impression, understanding, and sense of His presence that she could carry into the Christmas season.

Because He did grow up, He did live and die for us, and He did it so we could know He’s got us from the moment we put our trust in Him through eternity. That’s quite a Christmas gift, don’t you think?