The Christmas Lamb

 The Christmas Lamb

“Blaze, you give that hat back to me right now, or I’ll tell my daddy!” Tandy was shouting loudly as Blaze disappeared into the trees.

Sticking his head out from behind a branch, he mocked, “I’ll tell my daddy!”  Oh, how that made Tandy’s blood boil! 

“I’ll tan your hide when I catch you, Blaze Garrett!”  She ran around the tree and chased him out into the clearing by an old red barn.

"Hey, what’s going on here?”  The kids stopped in their tracks and turned to see Sophie rolling up behind them in her pink chariot.  “Are you guys playing chase?”

“No!” gasped Tandy as she caught her breath.

“Blaze stole my hat, and I want it back NOW!!!!”  Blaze was jumping back and forth waving the knitted cap high above his head.

“Come and get it, Tandy!” he sang in a high-pitch.

“Wait, guys!  Did you hear that?”  Sophie was

rolling quickly and quietly across the lovely carpet of leaves.  “Listen!”  She stopped, and they all froze.
“It’s coming from that old barn over there.”

“No way, Girls!  My daddy will skin us all alive!  Tandy, you know he’s told us to stay out of these old sheds!”  Blaze crossed his arms and shook his head.

“Sophie’s right!  Something’s crying in there!

Listen!”  Tandy moved closer.  “I’m going in.
What about you, Sophie?”

“Let’s roll!!!!”  With a

       snap, snap, clap, giggle and a wink,
      Sophie flew to the barn in her chariot of pink!

Tandy caught up with her at the door and turned toward Blaze.  He hadn’t moved a muscle.  “Why, Blaze, you’re just an old chicken!”  With that, the girls disappeared into the barn.

Blaze’s mouth flew open.  He couldn’t believe they went in.  “Well, I guess I might as well go, too!”  he said out loud.  “I’ll get in as much trouble as you will for not talking you out of it!”  He kicked the ground and ran to the swinging door.

The barn was pretty dark, but the light was shining through the cracks in one corner. Something was moving around and crying real loud!

“Oh, look!”  cried Sophie.  “It’s a little baby lamb, and he’s caught up in wire over here in the corner.”  She reached out and touched the soft wool, and the lamb nuzzled his head in her lap.

“Here you go, Little Fella!” Tandy whispered as she bent down and freed his leg.  The lamb ran free and scurried past Blaze as he fled through the door.

“You know, this old barn and that little lamb remind me of a story Faye Faye told me about Christmas!”  Tandy said with a smile.

Blaze put his hands in the air, made an ugly face, and took giant steps toward the girls.  “Yeah..I’ll bet it was a scary story about wild things!  Oh! Oh! O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ow!”  Tandy and Sophie just stared in disbelief.  How silly could one boy possibly be?

“No, Goofy!  Let’s go outside and I’ll tell you a real story about the Lamb of God.”

Tandy started out the door with Sophie and Blaze on her heels.

Blaze and Tandy sat down on an old log in the clearing, and Sophie rolled up beside them.  All eyes were on Tandy as she began the story with, “This story is about Jesus.”

“Jesus?  Yeah, I know that story!”  said Blaze and Sophie nodded.

“But it wasn’t about a lamb in a barn.  Jesus was a baby.”  Blaze was puzzled.

“Blaze, I really want to hear this story.  Just listen!" urged Sophie.  "Go on, Tandy!”

“God loved us so much---just like a shepherd loves every one of his little lambs---that He couldn’t stand to be separated from us.”  Tandy’s eyes were filled with wonder as she went on.

“So, God sent an angel to a very godly woman named Mary to tell her that she was going to have a baby,”  Tandy whispered and smiled.

Blaze burst in, “Yeah!  I remember that story!  She wasn’t even married to that Joseph guy.”

“No, Blaze, she and Joseph weren’t married, yet.  This baby was God’s son,” Tandy pointed to the sky as she spoke.

“God sent His son all the way from heaven to earth just for us?”  Sophie asked quietly.  “Why would He want Him to leave heaven?”

Blaze and Sophie edged closely to Tandy.  Why on earth?

“That’s exactly what He did, because He loved us so much!  We are all His lambs, and He doesn’t want to lose any of us….not even one!” Tandy’s finger went into the air.

Blaze wanted to hear more.  “Well, what happened?  Did Joseph marry that lady?”

Tandy smiled and went on.  “Of course, he did.  He obeyed what God told him to do.  Faye Faye said that they traveled to a town called Bethlehem to register for the census.  Joseph tried to find a room for them to stay in, because Mary was ready to have the baby.  But all the rooms in town were full, so they had to stay in an old barn, probably like that one.”  She pointed to the old shed.

“You mean that the baby was born in an old barn on the hay?  I’ll bet it was all dirty and stinky and cold in there.” Sophie shivered as she rubbed her arms.

“They wouldn’t let the Son of God have a room with a bed?” Blaze couldn’t believe his ears.

“You guys, not everyone understood or believed God’s words.  Lots of shepherds followed the stars to where baby Jesus’ lay, because they DID believe.  Kings and wisemen came from all over the world to see the new King of Israel…the Son of God…the promised Savior.”  Tandy was now standing, shouting the good news.

Then, she said with a sweep of her hands, “They brought Him precious gifts and knelt down and worshipped Him.”

Blaze shook his head in disbelief.  “Everyone should have believed.”

“There are still people who don’t believe,” Tandy stared at the ground.

Sophie whispered, “So, they are just like that little lost lamb?”

“Yeah, they are.”  Tandy answered.  “But, the best part is this...God never gives up!"

Blaze and Sophie’s eyes widened as they looked into Tandy’s eyes with hope.

“God is always reaching out for His lost lambs, so they can find Him.  That’s why He sent Jesus to live, die, and rise again as a sacrifice for us all---THE LAMB OF GOD.”  “But,” Tandy assured them, “that’s another story I’ll tell you some time.”

“I always loved Christmas for all the presents I got,” Blaze admitted.

He looked at Sophie.  “But Christmas is really about who Jesus is…God’s special gift to us.”

Tandy leaned forward, “Blaze and Sophie, Jesus came to earth to save us….all of us.  All we have to do is ask Him into our hearts.”

“And we won’t ever be little lost sheep!” Sophie said with a smile.

Blaze shuffled his feet in the dirt.  “I can’t understand why anyone would want to be lost, alone, or separated from God.  He must love us all an awful lot!”

“Now, let’s do something for Him!”  urged Tandy.

Blaze and Sophie's eyes lit up!

“Let’s share Jesus with everyone every single day!!!”  Tandy was bursting with excitement.

“Yeah!  Let’s do it!”  Blaze shouted as he ran toward the trees. 

“I think I’ll wear this nice little cap to spread the news!” 

And with that, he disappeared into the trees.

“Climb on, Tandy!  We’ll cut him off at the Rainbow Tree!”  Sophie cried. 

 

With Tandy perched on the back of her chair, and with a

new mission in their hearts, there was a
            snap, snap, clap, giggle and a wink,
                and they sped to spread good news
             in the chariot of pink.

The Rainbow Tree

The Rainbow Tree

“If that’s a fallen limb, why isn’t it dead?

It’s covered with leaves!”
 
Blaze and Tandy were walking through the trees
in the pasture behind their houses when they spotted a
branch that was arched over the path.
 

                                              A small voice whispered, “Silly, that’s no ordinary tree!”

 

“Where did that voice come from?”  Tandy jumped as she spoke.

They heard singing.             

                                              “ You just snap, snap, clap…give a giggle and a wink.”

                                              She pulled up to their feet in a chariot of pink!

Blaze and Tandy were frozen.

Who or what was this?

                                              “Hi,” said Sophie as she thrust her hand out toward them.

                                              “Pleased to meet ya!”

Blaze reached out, unsure if this was real, and gently

touched the small hand of a little girl who couldn’t be
more than 4 years of age.  She was perched in what looked to
be a wheelchair that was hot pink and glistening with sparkles,
jewels, and bells that were dangling like diamonds.

                                              “I’m Sophie, and you are……?” she asked with

                                               a grin.

“Well, I’m Blaze, and this is my friend, Tandy.”
“We were just walking through the trees when we…, well, we…” Tandy
cut him off.

 “What are you doing out here all alone, Sophie.  You’re

in a wheelchair and can’t even get around by yourself.”

                                              “Wanna bet?”  laughed Sophie.

She spun around quicker than you can say “Sophie does somersaults!”

She gave a…..
                                               snap, snap, clap….giggle and a wink,
                                               and she flew through the air in her chariot of pink.

Up, up she flew to the tree branch and sped across faster than

your eyes can track.  She left a trail of pink glitter flying
like fairy dust in her wake.

Tandy and Blaze couldn’t believe their eyes!  Who or what was

this special creature.  With mouths still wide open, a little voice behind
them whispered,
                                               “Gotcha!!!”

The two friends jumped and grabbed

each other so tightly that they each thought they might pop!

 Sophie was giggling so hard that the chariot’s bells were ringing.

“H..h…how did you do that?” gasped Blaze.

“You’re just a little girl in a wheelchair.  You can’t move that fast, and
you certainly can’t fly over a tree!”

Sophie shook her head as she sped down the branch and screeched to a

halt at their feet. 
                                                “When will people ever learn?” 
                                                “Can’t never could!   There is nothing I can’t do
                                                 if I believe!”

Tandy shrugged and looked at Blaze.  Neither friend quite knew

what to say.  It was clear that this child could not walk…they MUST be
dreaming!

Sophie asked if she could show them something.  They nodded, and she

motioned for them to follow her.

She pulled up under the curved branch and asked them to stand beside

her.                                         
                                                 “Now look up through the vines and tell me what you see.”

The children’s eyes rose up high as they caught sight of the morning

dew kissed by the sunlight.  Colors danced upon the leaves as they
dangled high above the ground.

Blaze drew in a deep breath, “Wow!  It looks like a dancing rainbow!”

“I see beautiful colors of light!” squealed Tandy.

With a…..

                                       snap, snap, clap….giggle and a wink,

                                                  Sophie flew through the air in her chariot of pink.

All of a sudden, Sophie was sitting at the highest point of the special

branch.  The children were amazed!

                                                  “Do you see all of these beautiful leaves hanging down?”

                                                  “Those are wishes of children from all over the world.”

“What kinds of wishes?”  Blaze wondered out loud.

                                                 “Why, wishes to be loved and cared for by others no matter                                                  how they look or what kind of problems they have.”

Sophie looked down deeply into Tandy's brown eyes.

                                               “Tandy, don’t you want to be loved?”

Tandy blushed and said, |”Why, sure, Sophie.  Everyone needs love.”

                                               “Blaze, what if Tandy wouldn’t be your friend if she

                                               knew you had that round scar on your belly from the

                                               the bicycle wreck?|”

Blaze shook his head and touched his striped shirt.  “How did you know about that?|”

                                                “It doesn’t matter!” shrugged Sophie.

                                                “EVERYONE is special, and EVERYONE needs
                                                to know they are loved!"

Blaze and Tandy agreed and nodded.

                                                “Every morning before the sun peeks through the trees,"

                                                Sophie began, "I tie the wishes of children on to this branch

                                                and pray that God brings them love and helps them

                                                believe that they are brilliant and special." 

Sophie continued as Tandy and Blaze hung on her every word.

                                                "Some kids are homeless, while others are sick. 
                                                Many of them can’t see or hear, but they all wish for love. 
                                                I’ve hung love wishes for children who think differently
                                                than we do and for those who can’t even ask for love. “

Blaze was puzzled.  “How in the world would you know that someone’s wishes
for love would come true?”

Sophie went on, her eyes gleaming with joy.
                                               “Because God promised His love, and we are all God’s children.”
                                               “God never breaks His promises! 
                                               Whenever I see a rainbow, He reminds me of those promises.
                                               So, I call this the Rainbow Tree.”

                                               “ It makes no difference who we are or how we’re
                                               different from one another.  We all need love, and God will
                                               freely give it to us!” 

Sophie glowed as she said the miraculous words.
                                               “I ask God for all the children to find that love every single day  

                                               as I decorate it!”

Blaze and Tandy lit up!  What a great way to begin every day!

“Sophie, could we help you tie on the wishes and spread the love?”

asked Blaze.

                                               “Why, Blaze," she replied with a wink.

                                               "I thought you’d never ask!!!”

The adventure beginsJ

 In memory of
Jack "Daddo" Watson
 

Dear Grands,

Our family moved to a new neighborhood when I was 8 years old.  I quickly met Laura and Dana, who were my age and lived right on our block.  Mama Jeanne and Daddo were Laura’s parents, and they have loved and treated me as one of their own since the day we met.

Daddo was a postman who was loved by everyone.  I can still hear him say, “Hey, Connie Gayle!”, as I walked through the screen door.  He’d come in from work, sit back in his recliner, and turn the sports on T.V. He was always munching on a big bowl of popcorn or some cashews with his Boston bulldog, Tiny, tucked in beside him.  Daddo loved watching his Aggies play ball! 

Laura, Dana, and I even took a memorable ride with Daddo when we were learning to drive.  We drove his pretty green car through the garage door and right into the kitchen wall.  Daddo’s mouth was wide open!  I think he screamed as loud as we did!

One year, he bought a little organ called A Fun Machine.  We’d sneak in and catch him playing on it when he didn’t think anyone was home.

We had lots of neighborhood parties, and we had slumber parties at the Watson’s all the time.  One of our favorite days of the week was burger night!  Mama Jeanne would make her special hamburgers, and people would show up from all over Abilene!  Daddo loved those burgers!  Looking back, I loved the food, but what I think I loved best, were the blessings and kisses that they prayed over all of us before we could dig in.

I went to see Daddo a couple of years ago in the assisted living center where he lived.  He was in an exercise class and all the folks were throwing a large ball around the circle.  All of a sudden, one of the ladies missed the ball.  Daddo jumped up, grabbed his walker, and “sprinted” to get the ball.  I thought the instructor was going to have a stroke!

My heart still hurts as I remember the lost look on Daddo’s face three summers ago as he stood beside Mama Jeanne’s grave.  But don’t be too sad!  For now, I know that look has disappeared, because I can just picture the joy Daddo had when he walked through the gates of heaven yesterday…welcomed by Jesus, his Savior, and Mama Jeanne, his sweetheart.

You see, my precious grandchildren, God blessed me with another set of “parents” who loved me and taught me a lot about life.  Be open to the gifts and people God puts before you.  I pray that He will bless you with wonderful folks like Jack and Jeanne Watson.

                                                              Love you bunches and oodles,

                                                                            Gransie

P.S.  I love you, Daddo!  You made such a difference in my life!  Today, I celebrate youJ

           

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

ROOSTER NOODLE SOUP  (a true Garrett-family tale) 

When Uncle Andy was about five years old and just beginning to read and write, Grandpa Harold came for a visit.  The screen door slammed as Andy ran in sobbing, “I hate that old rooster!”

Grandpa Harold bent down to wipe away a tear and asked, “Andy, what happened?”
Struggling to catch his breath, Andy pointed to his bicycle lying in the driveway.
“Grandpa, that old rooster attacks me every time I go near the barn!  Look!  He slashed my leg wide open!”

“Yep, that old red rooster tore you up, Boy!” agreed Grandpa.  “Let’s wash you off and get a band-aid.”
They fixed up Andy’s leg and sat down at the dining room table.

“I’m not ever going to ride my bike near the barn again, and that’s final!” Andy declared.
Grandpa Harold nodded.  “I don’t blame you, Andy.  That old rooster’s pretty mean, and he knows that he’s got you scared.”

Andy felt awful.  It was no use.  He’d never again go near the clubhouse Daddy helped him build. There was no way he’d ever help Mommy gather eggs from the chicken coop.  His tools were even out there in the barn, and he couldn’t go get them to fix things around the house.  Suddenly, he remembered that he had left his Power Rangers belt right out beside that old rooster’s stomping grounds, and he threw himself down on the table and started to bawl.

Grandpa Harold wrapped his arms around Andy’s shoulders and hugged him tightly.
“Andy, I think you ought to march right out there and tell that rooster the way the cow ate the cabbage.”

“Huh?”  Andy asked as he blinked through his tears.

“Just go tell that rooster that he’d better leave you alone, or you’re going to make rooster noodle soup out of him,” Grandpa said with a wink and a smile.

“Rooster noodle soup?”  Andy wiped his eyes on his shirt sleeve.  Quickly, he pushed away from the table and ran out of the room.  A few seconds later, Andy slid into the chair next to Grandpa’s and placed a napkin and pen on the table in front of him.

“Grandpa, could you write that down?”  asked Andy.
Grandpa looked confused.

“ROOSTER…NOODLE…SOUP,” Andy said slowly, pointing to the napkin.  “Please write it down!”

Grandpa Harold carefully printed the words and handed the napkin back to his grandson who thanked him and stuck it in his back pocket.  Out the door he went, climbed on his bike, and rode toward the barn.

Grandpa watched from the kitchen window until Andy disappeared.  He shook his head wondering what in the world his grandson was thinking.  And he chuckled as he crossed the room to his favorite recliner.  Grandpa had just dozed off when the door burst open.  Andy stomped through the house holding the napkin high up in the air.

“Andy, are you alright?”  Grandpa quickly asked.

“No, Sir!” shrieked Andy.  He thrust the napkin into Grandpa’s lap and put his hands on his hips.

“Grandpa, I’m mad at you!”  Andy said with his lip quivering.

Grandpa Harold reached for his hand and asked why in the world he’d be angry.

“Grandpa, that old rooster can’t even read!”

Wrapped in Quilted Memories

The doctor’s words echo through my head,

“No weight-bearing on that knee for 6-8 weeks….
and keep it elevated!”

I’m down on the couch…and wallowing in the dumps feeling sorry for myself, when Pa gently wraps me up in the warmth and memories of my favorite family quilt.

I smooth it out over my lap, and my hand runs over a block of material that I know without looking.  This is a piece of Faye Faye’s seersucker pedal pushers she wore each spring.  All of a sudden, I’m lying in her lap as she reads, Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble to Kim and me.   We’re rocking in the swing under the pear tree.  A tear rolls down my cheek as I remember those special moments. 

Faye Faye, my grandmother, taught us to love books, poems, and storytelling, and gave us her lifelong love of learning!

Moving up to get more comfortable, a dark quilt block brushes against my leg.  Pulling it close to get a good look, I find myself smiling as I realize that this is a square from Granddaddy’s wool suit that he wore every Sunday.  It brushed my arm each time I walked hand-in-hand with him into the First Baptist Church where he was a deacon.  Granddaddy helped me to see God!

Now what is this?  I feel something hard and cold on an edge of the quilt.  Snaps!!!  Why, it’s PaPaw’s workshirt!  My fingers held tightly to those snaps on the front of his shirt as we plowed the rows up high on his tractor.  PaPaw taught us to love and respect the earth and the food and bounty she gives us.

My eye catches a pattern.  I hold it close and inhale deeply.  Its’s a piece of MaMaw’s stained apron.  It still smells like it did when she brought it in off the clothesline.  And, for some reason, as I gaze at the vintage cherry print, I can still taste that Jones Cake frosting that I always stuck my finger into when no one was looking.  MaMaw taught me the importance of serving those you love in everything you do.

Let’s see, what other treasures can I find?  There’s a bit of Mommy’s polka dotted dress that matched her blue eyes.  Daddy says he still gets goose bumps when he sees that picture of her wearing it.  My mommy taught me how to love one man with all of my heart…just like she and Daddy did.

Look at this!!!  I’ve not noticed it before.  Why, it’s a piece of Daddy’s old swim suit.  He wore it at the lake where he taught me to ski and swim, at the beach where we body-surfed and walked miles in the sand, and in the creeks where we camped and caught fish and crawdads.  Dad taught me how important family is and that the family who plays together, stays together…..and we did!


Ah, here’s a small edge of Katie Faye’s baby blanket which I often “borrowed” to put around Marybel, my Madame Alexander Doll.  My precious sister has always taught me that the love of a sister is far more precious than gold and that our friendship is one that can never be broken.

Today, memories sewn together with the stitches of time have made me thankful for the family God gave to me.  They’ve reminded me that no one He gives us is insignificant.   Each one becomes part of your story and teaches you the lessons you need to tackle life and make a difference in the lives of others. 

This old broken leg slowed me down a bit, but it helped me stop and take the time to remember how blessed I am.  I’m wrapped in a family quilt of love that is hemmed in God’s grace.