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Why You Make My Christmas Special

By Bonnie Gray • December 25, 2010 • 47 Comments

Christmas is here.

I’m writing a special Christmas card…

To Someone Special who’s made my Christmas,

I was browsing paintings in a local art gallery when I struck up a conversation with the shop manager.  She asked me what I did for a living.  I told her that I’m a writer and a mom.

A stranger stepped out from behind a panel. A slender woman, shy and young.  She apologized for interrupting, but wanted to ask me something.

“How’d you become a writer?” She paused, looking at me intently.  “How did you know?”

Instead of offering an answer, I invited her outside.  “I’d love to hear your story.”

As we stood there silhouettes in December air, this new friend told her tale.  As I gathered my thoughts, praying as I listened, I shared this with her at the end —

“I know I was called as a writer because whenever I write, I feel like I’ve found my home.”

There is no other place I’d rather be, than sharing words with others and creating room to hear stories in return.

Thank you for being home to me, dear friend, here on this blog.

Did you know…  This isn’t just a blog?

This is a space where faith and words connect us together.

This is a piece of heaven on earth, where my heart has found it’s home.

Every time I write a post, I think of you.

Yes.  You.

How are you doing?  What are you facing?  …. How can I encourage you?

And there you are, encouraging me in return —

The comments you leave.

The emails you slip in my inbox.

The quiet reading you do and blessing me by being here.

I hear you — through this connection we share and celebrate at Christmas:  Jesus.

Today, as I gather torn up wrappings, I’m grateful for one of God’s most cherished gift to me this year:  YOU.

Thank you for sharing your days, Unwrapping Jesus together!  You’re amazing gifts to me.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my gifts to you, too — the kind I know how best to give — my words.

Merry Christmas, my friend!   You’ve made my Christmas so special.

With affection and gratitude,
Bonnie

It’s been an entire year of being at home with each other, on this journey of faith.  I can’t wait to share more together in the new year!

“It is right for me to feel this way about you all,
because I hold you in my heart…
God knows how much I love you.”
Phil. 1:7-8 (ESV&NLT)

How is your Christmas?  Where are you celebrating?

I’m celebrating at home here with my Hubby, two boys and friends in Silicon Valley. No traveling for me!

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47 Comments

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47 Comments

  • Reply Maureen (Mo) December 25, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    And what a lovely home you’ve made! Merry Christmas, Bonnie.
    .-= Maureen (Mo)´s last blog ..Nativity by Night- A Christmas Promise =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:33 pm

      Thanks, Mo for making it comfy with your company!

  • Reply kendal December 25, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    we are at home, snowed in to our western NC home. and feeling so very blessed to have been with family all day. i’ve been blogging almost a year now – i think i started in january – and i LOVE it. the community is something i hadn’t imagined.
    .-= kendal´s last blog ..flood =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:33 pm

      There’s a special comfort of just being at home with those you love. Merry Christmas, Kendal!

  • Reply Becky Roode December 25, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    Beautiful!
    I, too, find an encouraging and lively community online amongst those that read-only and other bloggers.
    The fellowship is sweet as we share our most intimate thoughts on faith and life on our blogs.
    What a blessing!

    The snow is falling fast here in Virginia. The forecasters think we could have accumulations between 8″ and 10″ before all is said and done. I’m right down from the beach so I’m hoping the sun will come out enough on Monday so that I can drive down and take pictures of snow on the beach.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:34 pm

      I hope you get a chance to capture God’s beauty at the beach — although it sounds cold to this CA girl :). Blessings!

  • Reply Tweets that mention Why You Make My Christmas Special by -- Topsy.com December 25, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Corbie77. Corbie77 said: RT @Doallas: Why You Make My Christmas Special by @TheBonnieGray http://ow.ly/3uoD9 […]

  • Reply Barbie December 25, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    I always love my visits here! I celebrated in the East Bay with family. I don’t like traveling during the holidays. Thank you for always being so uplifting and encouraging!
    .-= Barbie´s last blog ..A Prophetic Art Journey – A Guest Post =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:35 pm

      So wonderful to have you here — as always, Barbie! 🙂 Merry Christmas!

  • Reply Donna December 26, 2010 at 3:16 am

    I was in Miami for Christmas, celebrating with my sister, brother and Mom and Dad. It was a wonderful day of fun and love and food. Now I’m back in Central Florida.

    I’m a blogger just beginning a few months ago. I can’t wait in the morning or at night to open God’s word and find something new.

    Thank you for your online friendship, Bonnie. Your blog is a pleasant place to visit.
    .-= Donna´s last blog ..For Our Safety =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:35 pm

      May God fill you with joy as you pour your words out… and experience home on the page.

  • Reply Debbie December 26, 2010 at 7:25 am

    Oh Bonnie, how I love what you wrote here:

    “This is a space where faith and words connect us together.”

    I have to say that is what touches my heart every time I visit you. How thankful I am to get to know you through your blog. I love that we share the same faith and that we have the opportunity to share and encourage others. You are a gift to many, including me.

    Merry Christmas!

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie
    .-= Debbie´s last blog ..Never Alone =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:36 pm

      Thanks for always being a blessing – encouraging with our life and your words, Debbie! Merry Christmas!

  • Reply Peter P December 26, 2010 at 9:50 am

    I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Bonnie!

    Thank you for providing a home-away-from-home here online!
    .-= Peter P´s last blog ..Christmas Letters – S =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 26, 2010 at 9:36 pm

      Aw, Peter! A wonderful friend’s visit makes everything cheerful and bright. Merry Christmas, dear friend!

  • Reply Kevin Martineau December 26, 2010 at 9:56 am

    Merry Christmas Bonnie!

    I spent Christmas morning at home with my wife and 3 daughters and then we went to a friends house for turkey dinner. It was a fabulous day!
    .-= Kevin Martineau´s last blog ..Today- is a perfect day for a perfect day! =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:11 am

      Thanks Kevin for always lifting up with your words! Blessings on your blog in the new year!

  • Reply Katie December 26, 2010 at 11:34 am

    I hope you had a wonderful Christmas to Bonnie. You are a blessing to us also.

    I spent Christmas with my inlaws. I love my mil very much! I got to meet my newest nephew, who is about 1 month old. I could not hold him enough, but did manage to share with everyone around. Next weekend we are going to celebrate with my family.
    .-= Katie´s last blog ..Unwrapping Jesus through the Eyes of a Child =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:12 am

      We had an awesome Christmas! Sounds like you got a special treat – 1 month! That is newborn cuddling that’s special!

  • Reply Jeri @godsdreamsforme December 26, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Feel the same way for you. So glad to be here, know you, and meet all the jammers. It really is like going over to family’s for awesome conversation and hangin’ out. I always bring my coffee with me (soy latte of course :D) and a little something too.

    My husband, David and son, Reid (24) get to enjoy a “read-a-loud” every so often.

    Thanks for having all of us over to your place.
    .-= Jeri @godsdreamsforme´s last blog ..This Christmas – Definitely More than Just Special =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:13 am

      A family read-aloud! Wow. Thanks for making this your place, too!

  • Reply Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms December 26, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    YOU are a deliciously delightful gift, sweet Bonnie! I’m so thankful for you! I can’t wait to see what God does through you this new year!

    Merry Christmas!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:15 am

      Ditto, Kristen! Love how you always mix in encouragement into everyday realities – even as you made your CO move!

  • Reply Becky@Daily On My Way To Heaven December 26, 2010 at 5:41 pm

    Blessings to you! We had a wonderful time with family and friends around the family table; we feasted over our Lord Jesus! We are now having a restful Sabbath.

    Blessings.
    .-= Becky@Daily On My Way To Heaven´s last blog ..The Lords Day – Thinking on the Shepherds- =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:15 am

      Restful. That is the best way to celebrate Christmas — and going into the new year! Thanks for sharing with us, Becky!

  • Reply Beth Werner Lee December 26, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Thank you Bonnie! I love that you were asked how you knew but asked back to hear the other’s story. I love your caring wise heart. Thank you for this blog space.
    Slowing down a bit. Advent was a rush. A prepared for rush and filled with Christmas joy, but rushy all the same. We had a lovely full Christmas day with service at church, dinner with neighbors, quieter night. I look to the week ahead and told professor hubby’s, “I think I’ll pretend I have the flu: sleep a lot, watch movies, read books, that sort of thing!”
    Got two ideas this Christmas:
    One to write a Christmas play called He Said, She Said and contrast Joseph being interviewed by Matthew with Mary being interviewed by Luke (“How could you forget the flight into Egypt?” “Oh that? Don’t remind me, that was horrible!”)
    The other was from the rest of Luke 2 where it talks of the eighth day (which is Jan 1) and circumcision, naming, redeeming the firstborn, Simeon, and Anna. A lot there, it’s calling for its own celebration!
    And in one of the three consecutive church services we attended I was struck by the juxtaposition of Caesar being the reason they went to Bethlehem but God’s Passover being the reason they travelled yearly to Jerusalem.
    Blessed Christmas, Eighth Day, Epiphany to you Bonnie!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:16 am

      Thanks, Beth! You sure celebrated! 🙂

  • Reply jasonS December 27, 2010 at 8:16 am

    We celebrated at home as well. Such a wonderful time to relax and enjoy one another. 🙂

    Thanks for being a part of my journey as well. You are a great encouragement in so many ways. Blessings to you, Bonnie!
    .-= jasonS´s last blog ..Love and God- Inseparable =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:17 am

      Can’t wait to see how God continues to chart your way — of course, encouraging others all along the way. Incl. me!

  • Reply Kelli December 27, 2010 at 8:22 am

    I read this on the way to church yesterday. I love your writing. I love how I feel encouraged and noticed every time I read something you have written. I’m am thankful for you! You display such hospitality to everyone who writes comments, blogs, etc. Thank you! Love getting to know you through your writing… Hope you had a merry Christmas!
    Your friend,
    Kelli

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:18 am

      Blogs are today’s place to share NT hospitality! And you do it well, in spades, Kelli! 🙂

  • Reply Laura December 27, 2010 at 9:38 am

    And, Bonnie? You are the bestest hostess ever. I feel your heart every time I come here. Yours is a very very special place. A Happy Christmas to you (It’s not over yet, you know) and a very blessed New Year.
    .-= Laura´s last blog ..Snow-Cousin =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:19 am

      I know. I’m still going to make Christmas cookies tomorrow. Love the sprinkles, esp. when the cookies come out warm. Happy New Year, sweet friend — I love hanging out at your place and look forward to more!

  • Reply Cherry December 27, 2010 at 9:41 am

    I have just been visiting here for the past few weeks, and have been so blessed by your writing. Thanks, Bonnie! I especially liked what you wrote here … “I know I was called as a writer because whenever I write, I feel like I’ve found my home.” So beautiful … and expresses my heart, as well. I have been journaling for years and years, and in recent months, have felt God’s promptings to write through blogging, as well. And writing definitely does feel like “home” to me.

    Our Christmas was so wonderful … our whole family was home (six grown children, four sons-in-law, nine sweet grandkids), plus my 89 year-old father, and my husband’s older brother. A full house of family and love …

    Thanks again …
    Cherry
    .-= Cherry´s last blog ..Ready Hearts =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:20 am

      Dear Cherry, you sound like a writer to me! And read like one, too! 🙂 So encouraged you’re here.

  • Reply Heidi December 27, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    What a beautiful post Bonnie, thank you for all that you do… your encouraging words and for letting us in every Thursday to Jam. God has used you to bless so many and I’m so grateful for you! I pray your Christmas was blessed in great abundance!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:20 am

      Thanks, Heidi. You bless me. You know that, right?

  • Reply Charity Singleton December 27, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Bonnie — This was beautiful. I have enjoyed getting to know you over the past few weeks of Advent during the Unwrapping Jesus Jams! I plan to keep poking around here in the weeks and months to come. YOU are a blessing!
    .-= Charity Singleton´s last blog ..We all feel it- dont we =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:21 am

      Oh, good — more Charity words for all of us! Wonderful our paths crossed! 🙂

  • Reply Kailash Agnihotri December 27, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Thank you all for sharing with Holley Gerth from whom I got something like these proper fancies to read. I am glad you put on Christmas in this way, as for me, people joining in what the day to welcome JESUS meant, Psalm 90:4 was found to match a midnight mass. The thousand years passed as the hour struck and many thanked the Lord for coming to take part with human beings. A few foreigners clicked away at the mass and it proved a new day. Of course Christmas Day was next but without a watch in the night I felt it’s only another festival or another day, Rom. 14:6.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:22 am

      So blessed to have you!

  • Reply Joyce D. December 28, 2010 at 11:46 am

    OM-gosh… Bonnie! I was totally touched by this post and started cryine when I read:

    “I know I was called as a writer because whenever I write, I feel like I’ve found my home.”

    I feel like home too when I write! It’s my outlet. Though I can’t say I’m a writer, I do enjoy blogging. I find inspiration in your story on how you were/are called by God for your gift of writing AND your gift of listening, intently. We could learn from that… God knows how much I need to learn how to listen to His voice! 🙂

    Happy, healthy, and blessed New Year to you Bonnie!
    .-= Joyce D.´s last blog ..How is God calling you to leave- go or see =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:23 am

      Tears? You speaka this language too, then: words. For sure. You. Are. A. Writer. Welcome home, Joyce.

  • Reply Melissa December 28, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    I feel the love and joy here, the peace that comes only in knowing and being known by the King. I’m so glad I found your sight, Bonnie, and I look forward to connecting more in the new year. May blessings abound here for you all your readers.
    .-= Melissa´s last blog ..The Doves Eye =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:24 am

      You’re adding to the warmth here, Melissa! Thank you and blessings right back!

  • Reply Debbie Feller December 28, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    Thank you so much for this wonderful home you and He created. The way you care and reach out to people, like your friend who wanted to know about becoming a writer , envelopes us with grace. Christmas has passed, but it was very beautiful to have my family together. I’m hanging onto that! God bless you, Bonnie and your words that portray Him!
    .-= Debbie Feller´s last blog ..Doing What We Can =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray December 29, 2010 at 1:24 am

      How wonderful you had family with you! It is definitely a gift to be with those you love. Thanks for taking the time to stop by, Debbie!

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