Jesus Is Missing… Again…

I had spent my day with a delightful daughter-in-law and helping my daughter with her infant while she was at work. 
Later that evening, we were scheduled to gather with all my kids and grands for a couple of hours to host the “Creer Family Stance Socks Games.” 
(Message me if you need details of how to implement this night of fun in your holiday traditions.)

The in-between time was slotted for my 4-year-old granddaughter to come over and help me decorate for Christmas. 
She arrived and went straight upstairs to check on all of the situations she had left the day before in the playroom. 
The stuffed care bears were still tucked into bed.
The Little People house, barn, bus, and airplane had all of the town’s people busy doing their things.
And the small toy horse was standing in its corral just like she had left it all the day before. 

A short time later she was ready to help.  We decorated the Christmas tree with cinnamon sticks, dried oranges, wooden beaded garland, and crocheted snowflakes. 
We then got the box out of a nativity set my mom had gifted me nearly thirty years prior. 
It’s a traditional scene with a stable, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and a few animals. 
What I love about it-
It also includes many other not-so-traditional people who came to visit the baby who laid in a manger as foretold by prophets of old. 
Each figurine comes with a story of who they are and why they wanted to visit the Christ child. 

My grand-daughter set up the scene as I one by one pulled each figurine from the box. 
Upon completion-
We were short one small piece-
Baby Jesus was missing. 

“We need Jesus!” My granddaughter profoundly said. 

I retrieved one from another set and she placed Him in the stable by Mary and Joseph. 
We then transitioned to setting up a few yard ornamental snowmen and penguins. 

She ran off to play upstairs for a few more minutes before our traditional evening activities were set to begin. 
As I was turning off the lights that evening-
I noticed a blank space in the manger. 

Jesus was missing…
Again…

It’s caused me reason to pause and ask myself how present Jesus is in my heart, my life, and my light. 
I’ve spent much time over the past few years letting go of decades of quiet anger, discontent, and discord that had silently hurt relationships with people I love.  The only one who was suffering was me. 
The only one who needed to change was me. 
The only one I could change was me. 
That change came about by better understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ and better learning how to give Christ my “hard stuff”. 
The truth is-
Jesus was missing from my life-
At least in the completeness that I want Him in it. 
Change came from praying to see myself and others as God sees them and gathering more strength from Christ to fight off the adversary who clearly did not want me to do any of this work. 
I’m truly a different person.  It’s amazing how quickly change came with sustained effort. 
It’s amazing how easy it is now to extend grace.

I could dwell with regrets over years spent not fully embracing my Savior-
Instead, relying on my own strength-
Instead, choosing resentment to rationalize behavior. 

But Christ met me where I was. 
In Him and through Him I find refuge from the “normal” in the world. 
Understanding what He can truly bear for me allows me to let it go-
Let it all go. 

A couple of days after my grand-daughter left I went searching for baby Jesus. 
Turns out-
He’s right where he should be. 
Her understanding is greater than mine. Her eyes to see are not hardened by a faithless view. 

Jesus was (and is) nestled amongst the (Little) people. 
All who choose to hear Him and come into Him-
Those He will help change their hearts. 
None are out of reach. 

Truly-
“We need Jesus!”

-JC

Snickers and Pretzel Caramel Popcorn

15 cups popped popcorn (I use pre-packaged Kettle corn)
4 cups pretzel pieces
1 cup+ Snickers candy bar cut into  pieces 

Caramel Coating:
1 cup butter
½ cup corn syrup
⅔  cup  granulated sugar
⅔  cup packed brown sugar 
¼  teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients listed above and bring to a boil. 
Immediately remove from heat and add:
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

Toss the Caramel Coating with popcorn and pretzels in a large bowl. Gently fold until evenly coated. Pour out onto a large sheet of parchment paper. Dot with Snickers candy bar pieces. 
Let set. Share!