Coffee
by Joyce Londorf
A S A musician , the music of Christ mas is, as my teenagers would say, what really “ grabs me” about the whole joyous season! All of heaven must be vitally aware of the impact and importance of music, or else, why would God have chosen to announce the greatest event in all the centuries by celestial singing with, as Hollywood would publicize, “ a cast of thousands” ? It must have been a fan tastic sight — a spectacular to end all spectaculars, staged on the very edge of the sky with the stars as spotlights. Per fect voices, musicianship and an acousti cally perfect sound system, free from mechanical breakdowns! No musician’s union or conductors were disputing, and everyone was singing on pitch. What a sight . . . and what a sound! In my wildest, most imaginative dreams, I can not conceive o f the beauty and many- splendored depth of that performance. The great concert voices in the sky that night sang over and over the good news of peace and holy joy, and only our God would have hand-picked the audience for the command performance. No kings, queens, princes or even bar ons, but instead, wonderful down-to- earth shepherds, working men, family men in the midst of doing their job . . . interrupted by a celestial concert choir. They were never the same after that night! Oh, how I pray for all of us to hear the real music of Christmas. The gentle melody o f peace throbbing with assur ance in knowing the Messiah. The mili tant beat of the hope theme for we know He comes again and very soon! The climactic, dramatic ending with full choir and orchestra, violins and trum pets, all blending musically to repeat and cresendo the magnificent theme of His love toward us. The music ends, but we are still able to hear the echoes, and we are able to bear and endure the temporary heartaches of these times— and once having heard the true music o f Christmas, we can never be the same again! And they who do their souls no wrong But keep at eve the faith of mom, Shall daily hear the angeVs song Today the Prince of Peace is bom. —J ames R ussell L owell
Thank You for saying no when I in dignantly determined to manage my own affairs; when I asked for a stone, foolishly thinking I was asking for bread. Thank You for saying no when I beat my fists upon the walls of heaven with force that made them bleed — all the while pathetically unaware that Your plan was better by far than what I sought. Thank You, Lord, for saying no when I wanted to take a bypath; when I wanted to push through; when I want ed to strike back; when I wanted to sit down in despair; when I wanted to hide behind locked doors. Thank You for saying no even when I wanted You to leave me alone for a while. Thank You for saying no in the midst of agonizing temptation when I begged, “ Just this time, Lord?” Thank You for saying no when my wounded heart cried, “ Isn’t next week soon enough to forgive?” Thank You for saying no when my deluded self asked, “ Please, may my good intention substitute for action?” Thank You for saying no to senseless excuses; to selfish motives; to enormous pride. When I asked, “ May I evade this task?” You said no. When I asked, “ May I pretend I didn’t see him?” You said no. When I asked to be big enough to stand in the spotlight, You said no. And never, Lord, never can I forget the struggle one cold, dismal night when I knelt alone by my bed and trembling whispered, “ If I give you all else, may I keep this?” How could I know then the joy I know now because You said no? Thank You, oh, thank You, dear Lord, for the innumerable times your answer was no! You have reached new depths in me, Father. Every no in the smallest detail o f my life has been but a beauti ful manifestation o f Your unceasing love, Your constant concern, Your love ly Plan. At last I am learning to trust You even when the no is more puzzling than I can grasp or understand. Lord, a thousand times I have thanked You for saying yes. I will again — this You know. But today, overwhelmed with deep gratitude for Your throbbing, moment-by-moment love, I joyfully thank You for saying no! —by R uth C alkin
MINCEMEAT MINIATURES Cut this fruity triple-layer confection into tiny squares, for it’s lavishly rich. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Makes 4 dozen. 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 2 cups sifted flour IVs cups firmly packed dark brown sugar 1 Vi teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine 1 jar (1 pound, 12 ounces) prepared mincemeat (2% cups) Vi cup coarsely broken walnuts 1. Mix rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in large bowl; cut in butter or margarine with pastry blender until well-blended. 2. Pat half into bottom of a buttered pan, 13 x 9 x 2; spread mincemeat over top. 3. Stir walnuts into remaining cereal mixture; sprinkle evenly over mincemeat layer; pat down lightly. 4. Bake in moderate oven (350°) 1 hour, or until a rich brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. 5. Cut into 6 strips lengthwise, then cut each strip into eighths crosswise. Serve plain or with eggnog ice cream, if you wish. (Cover pan and store remaining cakes in refrigerator.)
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All of a sudden, dear Lord, my heart swells with gratitude for something I have seldom thanked You for — I have seldom thanked You for saying no! And yet I shudder to think of the blots and smears and possible twistings of my life, had You not been wise enough to say convincingly and unalterably— no! Thank You, Lord, for saying no when my want-list for things has too often exceeded my longing for You; when the freedom for which I stubbornly begged would have held me forever earth-bound, w a d i n g in mudholes.
DECEMBER, 1968
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