Dear Lord; Happy Thursday Father!
Ever since I was a little boy Lord, I’ve loved this time of year. Beautiful lights and decorations adorn our homes, joyful Holiday music overwhelms the airways, and our hearts eagerly await the celebration of that Silent Night so many years ago. And along with the many festive practices that grace this season Father, December also ushers the return of some of my favorite childhood Christmas shows…
Dr. Seuss’ Grinch once again attempts to steal Christmas…
Linus reminds us of the miraculous meaning behind this Holiday…
Frosty the Snowman makes us yearn for that serene blanket of white…
And Rudolph… Well, Rudolph’s story was on my mind as I drove into the office this morning…
“I certainly feel like I belong on the Isle of Misfit Toys…” I mumbled to myself…
For the first time in a very long time Lord, I’m having a difficult time filling my heart with the joy this Holy Season offers.
As You know Father, this year has seen a great many trials for my family and I; many of which still have uncertain endings. And although I have faith that You’ll see us safely along this valley path in Your perfect time, the light from that Holy Star seems dimmer through the clouds this year.
And as I look around at the world joyfully celebrating this Season of Hope Lord…
I feel out of place… A “Misfit Toy” stranded far away from You.
And yet Father,
I know You’re with me all the same.
Even in my hurt…
Even through my pain…
And even on the Isle of Misfit Toys.
So Lord, as I make my weary pilgrimage to rest by the side of that Holy Manger this year, I pray that You walk that path beside me. Give clarity to my sight Father, and resolve to my steps that I may seek this Celebration of Hope with the wonder and awe of a child…
Your beloved child.
For it’s in Your precious name I pray Jesus,
Amen.
~PhatherPhil
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Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
Phather Phil, your reflection here is the mirror of my heart at this season. We may feel like misfit toys in a world which tries to tell us we don’t need the Lord, but oh, how we do! Even in your hurt. Even in your pain. He is there. Emmanuel with us.
I hope you will visit my blog tomorrow as I’ve expressed similar, heartfelt sentiments: http://www.marthaorlando.blogspot.com.
Praying that you and yours have a blessed Christmas!
And, here is a link which I posted last year regarding Rudolph and the misfit toys.
http://marthaorlando.blogspot.com/2012/12/rudolf-with-your-nose-so-bright.html
Thank you Martha! Not sure how I missed this previously! 🙂
Have a Blessed Christmas my dear friend!
If our journey to the manger were easy, it wouldn’t mean nearly as much when we arrived there.
Bless you for being real, Phil.
Very true Duane… We come to that manger with our weights, our burdens and our scars to rest in the One who truly gives us our journey meaning.
Thank you for coming by Sir… I pray that you and your family have a very Blessed Christmas!
It’s wonderful to serve a God who loves us in the midst of our humanness, our struggles; who sent His Son into a world and into a body that experienced humanness and frailty so that we could have a high priest who could empathize with us when we feel misfit. I’m sure Jesus felt quite a misfit in a world that didn’t understand Him. He dealt with his struggles through finding alone time with His Father, who was the one who truly understood him. We, too, can seek that communion with our Father who is the only one who truly understands us.