I love this time of year. Everyone is preparing for the holidays and for that special eve. Whether you are checking your list twice, adding to your grocery needs or planning family events, you know that special time is coming soon. And my message is packed with so much meaning. So buckle up. 

What strikes me most about the holidays and always puts a smile on my face are the clever and timely commercials. I love the General Motors advertisement where the woman gives his and her matching watches, and the man gives himself a truck as she receives a red SUV. She runs to the truck – and he shrugs – realizing that she prefers the black truck. He then follows with the classic line, “I like red,” as he resigns to the fact that he’s going to drive the red SUV.

As you know, we are still checking things off our “celebration” list. Dave is now three years and four months into remission. Our miracle is still fresh, and His glory, grace and gift still makes me tear up. Dave’s heart surgery in February, an issue that developed because of all of the treatment, was successful and saved his life. He is back to refereeing basketball, has his hand in baseball lessons, has hunted quite a bit and is hoping to find a part time job as a counselor. That’s his list right now. 

Ralph Mahalak assisted with our list and arranged for us to drive a hybrid Jeep Wrangler this past summer. It didn’t have a big red bow on it like we see in commercials, because it was slick just the way it was. Loaded with leather and lots of gadgets, we opened the top, turned up the tunes and had the time of our life. If you have never driven a Jeep, you really need to just take one for a spin. FUN!!

What Dave and I loved most about driving the Jeep was the Jeep wave. Whenever you see someone else driving a Jeep, you casually raise your left hand. You must have your thumb and next two fingers up and your third and fourth finger are closed. If you are driving, you “wave” to the other person who is driving a Jeep. That person waves back. Well, Dave struggled with the wave on so many levels. He’d forget until we were past the other person, so he’d stick his “wave” out the window like it was an afterthought to the person who was already down the road headed the other way. Or he’d wave to another vehicle that wasn’t a Jeep, but maybe looked like a Jeep… sorta. I’d just shake my head and sigh. Or he’d remember and do it perfectly and then look over to me with a “Joe Cool” smug smile. We laughed so hard last summer every time we drove the Jeep anywhere. The Jeep wave made our summer one to remember. Thanks Ralph.

When we took the Jeep back after our summer of “test” driving it, it felt like a gray winter day in Michigan. Sad, gloomy and … well sad. I was secretly hoping Dave was going to say let’s order a red one. That’s better than any red bow. The saddest week followed when we realized our Jeep “waving” was over. This secret code made us feel special; it had us smiling and laughing every day when waving at complete strangers. I didn’t want that joy to end. 

Driving to work one morning in my Equinox, (yes, I’m working again and that story I will share in my next post), I did the Jeep wave just because I wanted that “feel good” moment. And then it struck me that I’ve seen this sign hundreds of times. Hundreds, no, probably thousands of times. Two hands, held out to each side, nailed to a cross. This realization should not make you stop smiling, because Jesus did this for us. It was the gift he gave. His great love for us as he paid for our sins. 

This gift came as a babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. 

We are days away from the most beautiful gift of all. I can’t help but smile and sigh in awesome wonder.

Jesus is coming. The time is near.

Emmanuel.