We have all been there.
I’m sorry; we are not taking any more reservations.
Tickets are sold out!
No vacancy!

It is a horrible feeling, realizing you are too late.
You have the feeling of being passed by.
You second-guess your timing.
You kick yourself for not acting sooner.

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This Whisper was originally published on December 22, 2012.

Are you done all your shopping?
Did you send out your cards?
Did you wrap all the presents?
Finding boxes was hard.

Did you hang up the stockings?
Did you trim the large tree?
Did you bake favorite cookies?
Are there any for me?

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I just saw, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, last week with a dear friend.
There was much music, which was an unexpected blessing.
However, the simple depiction of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem was so powerful.
Their humanness, poverty, and their love for one another was so moving.

Mary, with her large pregnant belly, rode sideways on the back of a donkey.
Joseph pulled the donkey along, while talking to his betrothed.
Mary requested to get off the donkey and walk for a bit.
We’re far enough away, she reminded Joseph, as she touched her pregnant belly.

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It is a Grandma weekend with all three of my granddaughters here.
Playing Christmas music reminded me of this Whisper from a few years ago.
It was originally published on December 18, 2019.

This is the time of year to listen to Christmas music.
I confess that I begin listening a bit earlier each year.
I used to wait until after Thanksgiving.
I usually stop listening a few days after Christmas.

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I looked on top of my Hoosier cabinet.
I saw the blocks that I put there the day we decorated.
They are beneath the Merry Christmas sign.
They are next to the little fir tree on which hang the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments.

I put an old-fashioned Father Christmas next to the set of blocks.
Father Christmas always reminds me of Narnia, where it is always winter and never spring.
Never spring, until Aslan comes to make everything right.
Aslan who is on the move.

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This was originally published on December 19, 2013.
It is still extremely relevant today.

We have all been there.
I’m sorry; we are not taking any more reservations.
Tickets are sold out!
No vacancy!

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Ask anyone how to set up a nativity scene and you will get various answers.
Some may put the figures around just as it was set it up when they were a child.
Some may set up the scene a bit differently each year.
Some may set it up according to the Gospel’s account.

Those that follow Scripture may choose to have the Wise Men across the room.
They move the Three Kings a little closer to the manger each day.
They justify that decision by saying that the Wise Men were traveling.
They are correct; yet we usually see the Three Kings included in most nativity scenes.

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There is a small cabinet above my refrigerator.
I keep large serving bowls there.
I have glass baking dishes there.
In the back of the cabinet, I have quite an assortment of mugs.

What is it about mugs?
They seem to multiply.
They are the perfect gift, until you realize that you simply do not have the room for any more.
They can take over a cabinet in the blink of an eye.

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I was getting dressed, since I had to leave early for an appointment.
The phone rang and I heard the familiar Face Time sound.
I knew that it could only be one person.
I knew it was my daughter calling because my granddaughter wanted to talk to me.

I was on a time crunch but nothing will stop me from answering that special call.
I accepted the call and immediately saw my oldest granddaughter’s face.
It’s Grandma, she said excitedly as if she hadn’t seen me in years.
Well, hello, sweetheart, I said and she giggled.

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