The Joy of Preparations Fulfilled
One childhood remembrance is that my Mama Sue (Daddy’s mother) wore herself out before Christmas. She bought presents for all the children and grandchildren. She baked jam cake with cooked caramel icing and coconut cake with cooked divinity frosting. If you have ever cracked open a fresh coconut with a hammer and grated it on an old fashioned hand grater, you’ll know that simply getting the coconut ready was monumental. She made boiled custard from scratch and fruitcake cookies and divinity candy. Then, there were the baked hen and dressing. On Christmas morning, we gathered at Mama Sue’s and Daddy Leland’s house for eggs, pancakes, fried country ham, biscuits, and homemade blackberry jam and strawberry preserves before we savored her Christmas dinner a few hours later and gathered around to “have the tree” (which was opening presents). I am thankful for the joy Mama Sue and Daddy Leland gave us Christmas after Christmas.
We mamas and grandmamas prepare and then comes the joy of watching our children (and grandchildren) enjoy what we have prepared for them.
Think of Jesus’ joy when He gives us what He has prepared for us.
Do not let your heart be troubled;
believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many rooms;
if that were not so, I would have told you,
because I am going there to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I am coming again and will take you to Myself,
so that where I am, there you also will be.
John 14:1-3