For the past several years Dan and I have made Black Friday a day date.  It’s a fun way to get on the same page for how we want the Christmas season look.  What we’re gonna make people for gifts, what we want to do for a “bigger” kid gift, what teachers/friends/carpoolers/helpers we want to bless and thank, what to do for Christmas cards (only every other year), and when to get in a trip to my grandparents’ over the break (love the GGs).

We tend to get it all talked through and written down, along with about 70% taken care of that day.  We accomplish something for my man, dream for me, and laugh and connect for us.

In my hometown, Santa arrives at the airport in a little single engine plane to all the children’s delight.  Our boys included.  Then they all venture to the square downtown to sit in his lap and whisper their requests.  I still can’t tell how much of it all they believe.  I hope every last drop of it.

I’ve had nostalgia hit me again in a visceral way while at my parents’ for Thanksgiving.  I sorted through books and toys in their basement.  Including one of my favorites: the out-of-print Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World.

Then I moved on to books from my older childhood years.  These mostly consisted of Sweet Valley Twins and The Babysitters Club.  (Anyone else?)  Not Austen or Bronte, but they walked me through some coming-of-age-type themes.

I’ve been thinking about God’s pruning process.  Cutting branches that don’t bear fruit.  Pruning others so they will become even more fruitful.

Cutting, even pruning, is not exactly painless.  And it doesn’t happen overnight.

Our only hope is to remember that the single way to bear lasting fruit is by being connected to the Vine.  No one can be there for us the way He can.  The only love described in His Word as unfailing is His love.

And it truly is enough.  He is relentless in showing me this experientially.

There’s nothing else to which I’d rather submit.