a christmas letter

This morning I am facing what may be the biggest baking/cooking/prepping day of my life. I'm looking forward to the challenge. But first, I'm taking a quiet moment for a bit of coffee, sitting across the room with our lop-sided little tree that was decorated last night by eager little hands.

I thought I'd quiet this little blog for a few more days, but before I do I couldn't forget to wish all of you a happy holiday season. May it be peaceful, merry, warm, and just right. 

Before I go, however, I wanted to share with you a special Christmas letter....the one my mother sent out this year to our friends and family. I wish I had that perfect picture to go with it--because I know exactly which one I'd choose--except it's at her house, and I am here. But I have a feeling the picture will be clear enough in your head. 

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. 

xo.

molly

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

She became my project when she made her way, so many years ago, to the sheep pen in our barn in Leitersburg, Maryland.  Along with two others, she traveled up I-81 from Virginia Tech to Hagerstown in the back seat of daughter Mary’s silver Ford Escort.  Emily was an orphan, and even though I didn’t need a single (or triple) extra thing to do, her fuzzy head and sweet eyes captured my heart.  What’s a mom to say?  Drive those lambs right back to Blacksburg?  Hardly.

Under my care and two bottles of milk replacer a day, Emily flourished.  Soon grain and hay replaced the bottle, and come springtime she discovered green grass and warm sunshine.  Emily and her barn mates, Hope and Nelson, were thriving.  

One late Spring evening around the supper table, conversation turned to the fact that Miss Emily was the only lamb on our farm yet to be sheared.  Since the weather was mild and daylight lingered a little longer, Mary and I headed out to the barn after the dishes were done, with halter, extension cord and clippers in hand.

Here was the thing about this situation:  When we sheared a sheep, it stood on an elevated metal platform. Its head was immobilized by resting the chin in a U-shaped bracket with a soft rope corded around the neck.  Emily had never been off the ground, all four hooves at once.  She had never had her head stuck into something that held her fast.  Sometimes this scenario is challenging if the sheep determines to buck, so to speak, the system…and most do.  We didn’t know how this would go.

Together, Mary and I hoisted Emily onto the stand, placed her chin in the holder and threaded the rope across the back of her neck securing it under her chin.  I stood on one side distracting Emily with a handful of grain.  Mary, on the opposite side, plugged in the clippers and flipped the switch.

The first pass with the clippers from the base of her tail up the middle of her back brought no particular response from Emily.  Mary continued—legs, chest, underbelly.  Emily was incredible--standing there munching peacefully.  Mary shut off the clippers in order to apply fresh oil and let them cool before attacking the last obstacle, Emily’s head.  Loud, vibrating clippers around the face, eyes and ears of a sheep are hard to tolerate even for the most stoic of animals.  So far, Emily had been a dream, but now it could all fall apart.

I dipped out a fresh scoop of grain and Mary started in along the jawbone and toward the ear.  As long as I live, I’ll never forget what happened next. In her moment of fear, as the clippers approached her eye, Emily leaned against me.  She simply shifted her weight and leaned on me.  No panic or jerking.  She just leaned in and we stood there together braced against one another until all was quiet again.

I haven’t forgotten the message Emily sent me that evening.  Unexpected things come along—especially these days.  Jobs disappear, portfolios shrink, houses don’t sell, accidents happen, health issues surface. But there is something anyone can do…lean in.  The Good Shepherd, whose birth we celebrate this time of year, stands near with wisdom and provision.  Every time.

We are blessed beyond measure and send our love and greetings to you and yours.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PEACE IN THE NEW YEAR.

Comments

[Sarah Jane]

Wow! My eyes teared up reading that beautiful letter. It's now quite obvious who you get your writing skills from. Many blessings and joy to you and your family this Christmas and the year to come.

[Kyrie]

Oh, my eyes welled up too. Merry Christmas, Molly. May peace be with you and all of yours.

xo, K

[Gina :]

I've read many a holiday post over the past week, but this one is by far the most wonderful. We just finished unwrapping gifts with our little one, and are about to settle around the kitchen table to warm our bellies with breakfast. Thank you for warming my heart. A very merry Christmas to you and yours.

[Barb]

With tears falling, I thank you for sharing this. It was just what I needed to hear.

A Blessed Christmas to you and your family.

[Stefani]

What a perfect perfect letter. Thank you so much for sharing. We're wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases, Molly!

[Alicia A.]

Oh Molly. and Molly's mom. Hugs to you.

Merry Christmas.

[Tora]

The perfect sentiment......bless you all.

[Jen]

I was going to say what Sarah Jane said--lovely, and I see where you get it. Merry Christmas, Molly!

[Brittany]

Such beautiful words and images. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[Liz Ferguson]

Oh Molly. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing that lovely Christmas letter. I really needed to read this today.
Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Liz

[Erin Zackey]

What a sweet letter indeed! I shall share the message with my family as well.
Happy Holidays to your family!

[Molli]

Merry Christmas, Molly, to your family and especially your mom, who always has the right words. What a great lady!

[greenchickadee]

What a beautiful story! Lean in. I think there are more analogies there also, with the lamb, the peace, . . . you know.

[mary]

Thank you for sharing those beautiful words. Each day I feel blessed that I am surrounded by those that I can lean on. Merry Christmas to all of you.

[Mary Smith]

What a fantastic idea to write a story in a Christmas letter. Lean in. What an inspiring message. Our shepherd and Saviour is so good. A very Merry Christmas to you, Molly!

[inga]

Thank you for such a cozy post and Happy Holidays, Molly :)

[Michelle]

Thanks for such a sweet post Molly! I just may have to share that with my church family! :)

[Amy]

Like everyone else, my eyes teared up as well..thankyou so much for sharing. wow..what a well written letter! And what a great idea for a christmas letter...I will indeed be sharing this and passing it along..thanks so much. merry christmas to you and God bless!

[erin]

this is so beautiful. thank you for that.

[Kristin]

What a precious letter...that is my goal as this new year dawns...leaning more on the Shepherd.

[Kristy]

So simple and true.

[Danielle]

Thanks for reminding us to lean. So often it is so easy for us to try to be stoic. To act as islands. But we aren't. We must lean, be vulnerable, and count on the ones around us. That way they, too, can count on us.

Have a peaceful New Year.

(I added a link to this post on my blog. I couldn't resist. It is perfect.)

[Annie Pazoo]

A really lovely Christmas letter. I do so love a well-written letter :-)

[twb]

you have a good mom.

[renilde de peuter]

thank you for this sweet and heartwarming letter, Merry Christmas to you and your family:)

[Pebbledash]

Thank you. xxx

[norma]

Wow that is the best Christmas letter ever. We are so blessed to always have His covering and hope. Thank you for sharing.

[adrienne]

Thank you so much for sharing what your mother wrote so beautifully. We spent this Christmas with my husband in the hospital, undergoing an emergency surgery with no insurance. This has been a frightening and very stressful time for our family, and I think I tend to be the panicking sheep, bleating and flailing. What a perfect reminder to me to be still and lean on my Savior.

[amy]

a beautiful reminder...thanks

[cloth.paper.string]

i'm all a-tingle reading this thinking of the letting go, the leaning in.
thank you, thank you, molly.

[Elizabeth Patten]

Isaiah 40:11
He shall lead His flock like a shepherd
He shall gather the lambs in His arms
and gently lead those that are with young.

peace
and leaning in

what a wonderful letter
thank you for sharing.

[shanna murray]

what a beautiful letter. happy new year to you, molly!

[christine]

oh my... the goosepimples...
what a beautiful story.
i could feel Emily leaning in to me at the end.

[Kimberly]

That is the most beautiful Christmas letter I have ever read. Thank you for sharing.

[Autum]

Oh wow, Molly! I didn't tear up a little reading this. No, I had a great big lump in my throat and tears streaming down both cheeks- had to get up and get tissue before I could even type this comment. Thanks so much for sharing your mom's beautiful Christmas letter. It has touched me deeply, reminding me of something I too often forget when times seem scary and out of control. Lean in. Just lean in. Thank you!!