A Birthday Gift

Well, I have turned 50. It was a wonderful birthday. Surrounded by my wife, children, and daughter-in-law was all I wanted and I got it. I want to share with you one of the gifts I received as well. Emma and Jennifer came together and sent me to play golf. 

18 holes. Cart included of course (my knees would not appreciate walking the course... sorry dad, we rode this one). 

Having a birthday in December made golf during this time of the year previously impossible for me. Living in Ohio and Pennsylvania I was confronted with rain and snow often. But here in South Carolina, I do not have that issue! So Emma and I loaded up our clubs and headed to the course. 

But it was cloudy, and it was rainy that day. 

As Emma and I pulled up to the first hole, the rain began to fall in earnest. Emma was not to be deterred. She only learned to play this year and her game is coming along quite well. She does not hit it far but she is remarkably good at hitting it straight (I hate her... I mean seriously who hits it straight on their first ever swing!). 

As we drove down the first fairway, with rain coming down, Emma made the call... we needed Christmas music to brighten the round. For the next 5 holes Christmas music played on her phone. We sang and played in the rain and it was glorious. 

By the 6th hole our Christmas joy chased the rain away and only the clouds remained. 

This makes we wonder. . . Are the places and moments in your Advent preparations that you could inject some joy and infuse some hope? For Christ is with you!  

We played well that day. Emma almost made her first par! But it was the music that helped us forget the cold and the rain and remember that we were together. That made all the difference.