"Bo-ba"

"Bo-bah"--pronounced: bow-bah is one of our 2 year old's favorite words. Bo-ba is Seth's word. He made it up some time ago. While we do not know how he came up with this word, we know exactly what the word expresses for him. Bo-ba is his joy-word. It is the word he uses when no words he knows can express the excitement he is feeling. For instance, when Ma maw knocks on the door he lets out a, "Hey there ma maw...bo-bah" or when we announce that we are getting ice cream he may let out a loud bo-ba. He often takes off running or leaping in enthusiasm as he shouts, "Bo-ba; bo-ba."

For many people, the upcoming holidays are bo-ba thieves. The stores start playing Christmas music and you start going to a dark place. You associate Thanksgiving and Christmas with stress, family arguments, unmet expectations, the loss of a loved one and a whole slew of negative emotions. O, yes, the holidays can be a major trigger for all kinds of negative emotions, can't they be?

That is one of the reasons we have begun looking at a Christmas passage in the Bible from Isaiah 9 so soon in the season. It is my prayer that rather than be blindsided by the holidays, you will experience the presence of Christ this Christmas by bringing his presence to others.

Last week, we accepted the challenge to seize any small or big opportunity God will give us to bring his light of love into someone Else's' darkness. In fact, I have an opportunity for you right now. Lori Fearn a member of Living Hope was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer. Lori is young and her children are in high school and college. The only option for Lori is a liver transplant. What if we flooded Lori's email box with emails of care and prayer? Even if you don't know her, you can express your concern as a brother or sister in Christ. Would you send a email to lorifearn@yahoo.com ?

Make this Thanksgiving and Christmas less about putting presents under a tree and more about small and big acts of bringing God's presence to this Christmas and I won't be surprised at all, if some Sunday this season you spontaneously shout out a loud and strong, "BO-BA, BO-BAH." At least that is what I am praying and believing for you!