I Know Whom I Have Believed...


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Finding Christmas in the Ink Stain

It was the year before Charlie Brown first asked:

Isn’t there anyone,
who knows
what Christmas is all about?!”
file0001831357271 ””
Christmas past...her 6th, and a special gift from paternal grandparents...

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Black leather,
red words,
white pages of the Kings story in a king’s version...

Many Christmas seasons pass and the book is taken down from the shelf to find the treasures hidden among words sometimes hard to understand...

She decides to make a statement by underlining every word she reads in ballpoint ink...

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Tiny globs splotch the thin sheets...

Fast forward to Christmas present, and during an attic search those packed away inked pages and spotted verses are found in the middle of a box of keepsakes.

She pauses and opens the book...

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The naivety of the ink stains...

The reminder that underlined words mean nothing...

unless

penned by a holy hand on a receiving heart.

and she sees His hands

innocent hands balled into tiny fists swaddled close under the star of wonder...

healing hands that touched lepers,

tender hands that held children and broke bread...

sacrificial hands inked red...

mighty hands that are big enough to hold pieces of broken hearts so hope can mend the cracks and grace repair the irreparable...

So the world can know joy 

and

Love...

And that, Charlie Brown, is what Christmas is all about...

The greatest Love imaginable

Love that underlines YOUR NAME with crimson
and then rubs a mercy-filled eraser across all the splotches and smudges we create in our lives...

Love like this,

only

Jesus

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19 thoughts:

Carrie said...

very beautifully written!

Jerralea said...

Beautiful! And very poetic!

I used to underline every verse I read in the bible, too!

What treasures are bibles are - and so personal the comments and underlining in each one. I think they are heirlooms to pass on.

Laurie said...

This touches my heart this morning,Karen, as I see you as a young girl, hungry for the word of God, and now hungry with a deeper understanding of His great love for us shown to us through His Word.

Sandy said...

Yes, I agree, it is very beautifully written, Karen, from a heart that overflows with love for our dear Savior. Thanks for sharing this. And, these pages remind me of my Bible, all marked and underlined and cherished.
Hugs~

From the Heart said...

I agree with Carrie.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

This is such a heartfelt story...Beautiful

elaineolsen@live.com said...

At first glance, I thought "The naivety of the ink stains..." read as the "nativity" of the ink stains. I suppose it would work . . . this nativity, this birth of new thought, new life when one realizes the naivety of previously underlined words. Oh that God would birth in my heart, write in my heart, impress upon and deeply embed within my heart, the witness of his words.

Nativity. New life wrapped in eternal words.

Merry Christmas, Karen.

peace~elaine

Denise said...

Amazingly awesome sis, love you.

Sharon said...

This was poetic, Karen. Just a beautifully penned post, and a lovely message. I teared up as I thought of the little girl in me who fell in love with Jesus, all those many years ago. And my heart skipped a beat as I thought of those loving hands that have held me all these years.

Yes, Charlie Brown - JESUS is what Christmas, and every other day of your life, is all about.

GOD BLESS!

Bernadine said...

Somehow visiting your blog always make me smile. Your words are so inspiring. Love the view of the much underlined Bible of your childhood. Switch to yellow marker and it could be mine:)

From the Heart said...

Beautifully written.

Peggy said...

My dearest Karen,

Such a GIFT!

Such a beautiful memory in INK stained pages underlined.

Such a wonderful way of wording your precious thoughts!

Such a long time it has taken me to finally come here and express my thoughts (after you have written over a zillion in the last two days alone for me) about this piece that I have read and guarded each word especially about His hands and yours!

Such a rich inheritance passed on with such a great love!

Such eloquent words about the King's story in KJV.

Such profound thoughts that have changed the penning of this child that just underlined the words to words that flow from His Spirit through her pen and heart now. Words that she lives out and I treasure so much!

Such a timely attic discovery in lieu of mine being charred but the sheer knowledge of my "closet" miracle that guarded my family Bible (not a personal gift like yours that shows your passion for His Word at such a young age).

Such a receiving heart that has guarded up all these words, underlined and better understood as she writes about His hands so holy, innocent, "miraculous", healing, mighty, innocent, sacrificial, "scarred"... yet all embracing of your penned thoughts and His Word that shows the carving in His palm.
Your words so beautifully penned in honor of Him and His wonderful hands. His wonderful love! His aMazing Grace even through the tears and tear stained pages of treasures beheld by the hands that write these Christmas treasures of such beloved gifts given by dearly loved saints paternally awed by this great Emmanuel.

But it's these words that you end with that capture my heart and makes me want to shout, dance, and give such thanks:(your words not mine)"Love that underlines YOUR NAME with crimson and then rubs a mercy-filled eraser across all the splotches and smudges we create in our lives...

Love like this,only Jesus


...the Master, Our Lord, and your beautifully written masterpiece to add to His glory with Hallelujah anyhow!!!

Yes, Charlie Brown, this is what Christmas is all about! God's story past down to become each of our stories that we add to how marvelous He is with us; past, present and to come ... we need Him!

Wishing with all that I have through prayer that Emmanuel blessed and continues blessing you and yours with this profound GIFT of His Love and a blessed Christmas and New Year! You indeed are such a blessing to me and your writing such a great gift!!!

Sharon said...

Just dropping by to wish you a very Happy New Year! May God richly bless you and your family with His presence, His power, and His peace.

GOD BLESS!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Excellent post; one of my favorite things to do, at Christmas, is read Luke 2. It never fails to comfort.

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

Love, underlined in crimson. Yes, yes, yes, indeed. Much love and many blessings to you in the coming year.

Aunt Angie said...

Thinking about you today....

just know you have a sister/friend in the deep south of NW Florida! ;)

Love you!!

renewd42 said...

Excellent and uplifting! Blessings!!

Cherie Hill said...

Sister, I'm so glad you downloaded FAITH Under Construction! I am so blessed to hear that you have found "empty." to beneficial to your faith!!
I cannot thank you enough for your encouragement!
Many blessings to you!
Cherie

Lavonda Pflug said...

Beautiful post!

I'm sad that I have not been here to read in a very long time. I'm sad to see it has been so long since you blogged something. But glad to know I'm not the only one that has been sidetracked away from my blog. Here's hoping we can both meet up in the bloggers' world again soon.
(I'm in process of starting a new blog. Hoping for a fresh start and a do-over.) lol

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