Merry Fence-mas

Merry Fence-mas by Deena McDaniel, Positively Beautiful blog 12/20/25 Christ is Christmas! There’s always a blur this time of year. The tree is set up, and a plethora potpourri of decorations abounds. Some reflect the silliness of the season’s Santa and his elves, while others may point directly to the “Reason for the Season!” Christ-mas is Savior centered. Even Pagans and other religions might take the 25th to exchange gifts for the fun of it. Who wants to be left out of a celebration? Everyone loves parties! “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”-Matthew 2:11 We all battle the business! There's one kid’s party at school, a work event, and then the local Christmas celebrations too! I missed the “drone display” again, but the videos were outstanding! Endless opportunities call us in, but discernment takes the front seat of Santa’s sleigh. What are the right things to be excited about for Christmas? Throwing Ole St. Nick into the mix is Christian liberty; some do play along, while others hold fast to Jesus only. What could you let go of this year to make Baby Jesus more of the focus? Christmas chaos homesteading looks a bit different. Livestock have no idea. They’re geared toward seasons, but it’s not the weather seasons I’m talking about. Area 95 Farms is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Spring babies! Time ticks, seasonal changes happen, but farm life waits for no one. Each sunrise, I see a silhouette walking through the forest. (Not Sasquatch) Buckets in hand and winter gear, including the infamous snowcap (he wears it for months even inside), Mickey tends the critters. Goats and birds can’t feed themselves! Then there’s the construction aspect, which waits for no one as well. Fence it up! My Christmas season is filled with elf jokes that never end, and some find out I’m an Elf-made woman. Many folks ask to hear my Christmas tree adventures from our farm, but it’s too sappy. Elf it up! God has blessed me with a Christmas gift that lasts for months! “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’”-Acts 2:28 Not only have I made new friends, but I’m also able to share my joy of Jesus with people all around the world who’ve traveled to Silver Dollar City! Our jobs in life must bring us joy! Your joy doesn’t have to be that bubbly Pink Elf humor; it might look like how my daughter works. “Mom, everyone says I’m the light in their day,” Abigail smiles, “I know it’s a kind word, a smile, and a cheerful attitude that I can bring, so I do.” During our travels of shopping and parties, think about how you can be the LIGHT. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”-John 1:5 Abigail tells me, “I’m filled with Light and Love.” (Of which she often quotes to many customers.) The morning came when I needed to help with fencing! Mickey has been 100% the builder, but at some points, he needs extra hands. My job, hold a board and then steady the ladder, which was rigged up, leveling the ladder on the side of the hill. (Ozark mountain terrain isn’t forgiving.) The 10-foot fence and 12-foot t-posts keep our crazy exotic livestock in! Life isn’t all full of parties. Work is work and what we’re designed to do. Time stops for one day, Christmas. No work. Most places are closed for the day. We have the gift of Christ to celebrate. Cooking, presents, and family take center stage. Gathering in community is what Christ is all about. He feasted. He celebrated. He even wept. If this season you’re hurting and lonely, research a place to volunteer for Christmas Day. We need each other. “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!-Ecclesiastes 4:10” Be part of the solution. The gesture doesn’t have to be a big one. Maybe visit a neighbor with cookies (store-bought are okay too!) Hey, just like when Mickey needed a couple of extra hands, I was there. I didn’t do much, but I did what was necessary. Elf jokes are not required in my job, but my shtick continues to entertain hundreds. Being Light and Love year-round creates strength for challenges ahead. Do what the Lord is calling you to do this Christmas season. “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”- 1 Peter 4:9 Be the Light. Share Love.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Love Beyond the Grave by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog STARVE THE VIRUS OUT we hear. Doing nothing is doing something. We go about our “dailies” and wonder what day it is? “We’re working on retirement muscles.” My husband cheerfully adds. Quite frankly for this stay at home, homeschooling mom, not much has changed. Well, we wash our hands more. We pray more. We swim more! We cook more. We’re blessed beyond measure, but then God blows me away one more time on how much he loves me. The mail arrived. (Read to the end for the knockout punch.) My Dad’s wife Jeannie is a retired kindergarten teacher. She’s 84. Her way of communicating is through letters. When my mom died in 2005, my dad was sure he’d find a new bride with whom he'd live out his golden years and he did. They were married 8 years before Dad died. In those 8 years I’d receive long lengthy letters from Jeannie on how Dad was doing.  Her letters were great because Dad would always simply say he...
Read more

Crayon Ready by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog

Image
  Crayon Ready by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog     Moving is always a chore. What do you keep and what do you pitch and what do you give away. We’re set to move in the next 2 years and I’m already beginning the transition. Oh, so much is collected over time. God pushes us. My heart is tender thinking how God has orchestrated my children’s homes.   “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?”-Mathew 19:5       Our son Charley recently moved to Tampa, Florida. Cool! He’s on a path to a new career and not too far away that he can’t come home to visit. Then less than two weeks after his move, we find our son-in-law Allan has been offered a dream job in Tampa! He’ll be designing million-dollar homes in the modern architecture designs he excels at doing! Wait for it, there’s more. Rosey and Desmond are wedded on March 12 and are looking to move up north ...
Read more
How Do Stars Fly? By Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog The whole wide world spins in space with trillions of galaxies so far away we barely can count them all. Then I glance down at the ants crawling around my plants and think about how small they are in relation to the vastness of space. Yeah, I’ve been watching documentaries on telescopes and such. The shows make me laugh because they’re constantly questioning the origin of space. NO banging only speaking. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”-Psalm 33:6 I’m ignorant of how the internet functions, and how the magic device (our smartphones) makes the world’s questions answered with one click. My heart soars thinking that I was born at this time and age of technological advancements. Simple air conditioning and sliced bread are relatively new creature comforts as we investigate the world’s timeline. And looking at the rainclouds your mind can be quickly blo...
Read more