"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Guest Post #14
"A Christmas Memory" by Janet Fehskens
Preface
"After two stormy years of marriage, the passionate, spontaneous, and exciting “long-haired hippy” I met in college turned out to be the good boy my mother had prayed for her daughter to marry.
Not quite hidden under the long curls was a young man whose vocational training began at age 14. As a teenager, he spent four years in a Catholic minor seminary, which resulted in a wonderful education and a passion for the unborn. He also carried with him a confusion that the Lord majestically cleared after wooing us into a whirlwind courtship with Him and leading us to a different denomination.
We said goodbye to my mother and North Carolina and his training continued
in cold Indiana, with his vicarage in Cheyenne, WY. We were seeing the world.
The Divine Call Service for the seminary graduates was in May of 1981.
May, 81, was our mantra for four years, and began what the cold weather and hard work were all about: serving God in his first parish.
Two specific prayers steadily pounded on heaven’s doors:
Mine: Be close to family.
His: Be near water.
We were thrilled when the call landed us on an island in Maryland within driving distance of both families. The young church family doubled in size during the four years we spent there. I still look back on that time as “Camelot.” The friends I made there are still my best friends.
Our sons doubled during that time, as well. Having arrived from the seminary with two sons, we left with four, the youngest only ten days old.
Although excited and optimistic about missionary work in the Great White North, the reality of transplanting to Minnesota did a good job of teaching me discipline regarding my tongue.
We contemplated why God would put us in such a foreign culture. No longer a parish pastor, my husband’s new position as national director of
Lutherans for Life left us searching for a church home in addition to everything else.
Our recent experiences filled 5 of the 10 “Most Stressful Life Experiences,”— check, check, check, check, check. My outlets were the Bible, common sense and oh, so much prayer. And let’s not forget a detailed book about colic called “
Crybabies.” Postpartum tears sprang to my eyes when a kind word was had for me. Those words were few and far between since I was at home alone with small children, so far away from family and friends.
A kind neighbor encouraged me to “go out every day no matter what” but the frigid, unkind wintry winds of Minnesota, compared to my balmy North Carolina home, kept me indoors with above-mentioned tears flowing for other reasons, as well.
Taught “*The Thumper Rule,” not only by Disney’s Bambi character, but my mother who lived by, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all,” I vowed that if I couldn’t say something nice about our new situation, I would keep my mouth closed.
Christmas
On our first frozen, white Christmas Eve in this strange place, our family braved the great outdoors and attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our (seemingly) frozen and unfamiliar church.
The congregation boldly confessed our familiar faith through an ancient creed, and my heart lifted. I recognized this community of saints as it enveloped past, present, and future believers, bound together in Holy love and worship.
I held onto Mark 10:29-30:
'Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much—homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life."
As the nativity was relived in candlelit wonder, my thoughts moved to young Mary, who traveled uncomfortably with her dear and bewildered Joseph to fulfill her mission. I pondered the thoughts she may have had of the warm and familiar family left behind, likely at least as confused as my family was. Did her mother teach her the Thumper rule? Was it hard for her? I hope she was sent with love and support, but have a feeling that’s wishful thinking.
The exhausted pastor looked deep into this lamb’s eyes as we filed past him, and back into the night to embrace the “good” part of Christmas the children anticipated, Santa!
Taking both of my hands in his, he exclaimed, “Your hands are so cold!” while my “Joseph” struggled to hold onto the hands attached to small bodies squirming to get away.
Numbly I nodded, determinedly holding tight to my vow, “say only something nice.”
“Do you like it here?” he queried.
In return, he received a smile.
God bless him, he knew there was more to the story.
“Are you settling in? Do you need anything?”
I nodded, then shook my head, refusing to say anything that could be used against me.
Finally, “Is your house warm?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed, "My house is warm!", so grateful to speak words to the kind man who searched for the hidden treasure he knew was there if given the time to unearth it.
“Her house is warm!” he announced to the patient parishioners who filed behind me, and then he introduced me to one of the saints,
who was also waiting for me –
to be her friend.
And then another one.
and then another one.
…a hundred times as much.
The community of saints. The forgiveness of sins. The resurrection of the body. Life everlasting.
Thank you, Jesus.
Merry Christmas, friends."
Bio: Janet Fehskens has led workshops at national
Lutherans for Life conventions and has published articles and poetry in
Living,
Gentle Spirit and local newspapers. She has spoken at the
Ft. Wayne Seminary, high schools, camps, and women’s functions. She served as president of the local
Lutherans for Life chapter in St. Paul, MN, and has led several women’s ministries in parishes throughout the country.
Both Janet and her husband, Ed, are avid readers. Ed keeps up with current events, but will watch sci-fi with Janet while she does handwork after the sun has gone down. Her favorite medium is primitive folk-art. She also loves taking photos during their travels.
Janet homeschooled their six children for four years, and began working part-time (away from home) when their youngest child began school. She completed eleven years of administrative work in NYS colleges while she and Ed lived in and near Buffalo, NY. Now adults, these children are parents of their 12+ grandchildren (#13 is due in February!).
She and Ed are now retired. They enjoy traveling and being “on call” for their children and their families, who are within driving distance, while simply praising God for His amazing grace as they enjoy time spent with their favorite people – all grown up.
A huge thank you to Janet for sharing her heart and heartwarming Christmas story with us! I was so challenged by her courage, fortitude, and determination to find the good in her situation and focus on that. May we all do the same this Christmas!
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As you think of Janet today and ponder upon her words, may I ask a favor of you, dear readers? Will you please pray for Ed and Janet's daughter, Mary Grace and their son-in-law, Danny? Danny is 29 years old, in need of a hip replacement, and trying to complete his college degree by this coming spring. His surgery was scheduled, but after doing blood work, the doctor found that his liver enzymes are elevated, which is preventing the much-needed surgery. He is in a lot of pain and on crutches. All this, while Mary Grace is due to give birth to the couple's second child in February. They have a little two-year old. Please pray for this dear family — for healing and relief of pain for Danny, normal liver enzymes, the green light for a successful hip replacement surgery, the smooth delivery of a healthy baby, and for their needs to be supplied during this trying time. Your prayers are SO appreciated!
In case you missed them, you can read previous Christmas Memory Sharing Posts by clicking these links:
