What is your Hallmark Movie ending 2015?

Since December the first I have been watching the Hallmark Channels because they are playing “Christmas” movies and I have loved every minute of it. With my current sleeping arrangement being a recliner in the great-room where the hospital bed is set up for my mother, I have been leaving the TV and the Christmas tree lights on all night so that in my wakeful hours I have the company of colorful, twinkling lights and people in stories that all turn out happy! In 2011 I wrote a piece, “If my life were a Hallmark Movie”, and asked the question, “If your life were a Hallmark Movie, how would it end?” My perfect ending for my movie in that year would have ended with me walking up the stairs to find my parents well and able, my dad would be getting into his bed, not sleeping in the recliner, and my mother would be snuggled up to him like I have seen so many times. I would have then quietly pulled their door closed and tip toed back down the hall to my own room where I would be greeted by the man of my dreams and enjoy a full nights sleep without listening for the monitor for a call of distress. A BIG sign would come on that said, “We’ve only just begun” instead of “The End”.

Wouldn’t we all like to script our lives to make them perfect?

Today I heard the Michael Bolton rendition of “White Christmas”, I know he doesn’t replace Bing Crosby but I am a Bolton fan, and as I listened to the lyrics I found myself feeling “Christmassy”. Question, When we hear that, do we REALLY want it to snow on Christmas, or is it the thoughts of that room lighted only by the fireplace, a cup of hot chocolate with little marshmallows on it and being snuggled up with the one we love, of course the children would all be obediently in bed waiting for Christmas morning? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Why is it when a performer wants to sound spiritual or “religious” they always sing “Amazing Grace”? Because everyone is familiar with that tune and those lyrics and it gives them that “go home again” feeling. When I hear the Star Spangled Banner my chest has that swelling feeling and I want to cry, invariably! It gives me that feeling of pride and I remember how my grandfather loved this land that gave him and his family asylum from the terror of the Muslims who were slaughtering his people, because of their belief in Jesus. Yes, all that comes to my mind, my eyes fill with tears and my hand is always over my heart.

I remember the first time I sang “When we all get to heaven” at a funeral, it was in the Peachtree Patterson Brothers Funeral Home and the acoustics in that place were amazing, it made me want the heavens to open and see all of those gone on ahead of me.

What I am saying is that our current environment influences our feelings and our moods, isn’t that so?

When you surround yourself with negative people you find yourself becoming more critical. When your friends are positive, upbeat and happy you will find your outlook becoming a little brighter.

When it comes to your faith you need to surround yourself with people who have faith in God, who believe John 14:6-7 Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”

I know what I believe and I don’t feel that I could be swayed from my faith, however, I will not listen to anyone who changes the Word to fit their life style or beliefs. I do not wish to expose myself to any more garbage than humanly possible, and there is a lot of it all around us on a daily basis!

Galatians 5:7-10 You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.

So how do I want my Hallmark Movie to end this year? I want to see happiness in the face of my two children and their families, I want my mother to live long enough to see her 91^st birthday, I want to write things that bring a new thought to you every day, and I want us to all have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year 2015!