Archives for December 2020

The question, “Is the glass half full or half empty?” doesn’t matter when you have cookies.

Life is better when we focus on the sweet, on the positive. Dreezy Claus, Chicago’s Black Santa, focuses on sharing positivity in a city that is often recognized for the polar opposite. With beautiful, brown skin that gives you spring butterflies midwinter, Dreezy is the ultimate healthy distraction. Being in his presence is self care. Whether he walks in or logs on, the air shifts from arctic to island–melting the coldest hearts with his easy, breezy warmth.

A teacher at my wits end, I was introduced to Dreezy when I reached out for help on social media last school year. My students were experiencing the annual “ants in your pants” and pre-break jitters; I wasn’t too far behind them. The road to completing any classwork was a slippery slope; we were all ready for vacation and in need of some holiday fun. Like ice, Dreezy did me a solid and visited my classroom at no charge. The happiness he left in the students’ (and staffs’) hearts was priceless. A year later, the business of being Dreezy is booming. He is in demand everywhere– from our beloved Windy City to internationally in Dubai! The price of his visits are still worth every penny. His book, ‘Dreezy Claus & The Boy Who Wouldn’t Believe’ instills hope that we all have a gift to share and deserve to be represented. His own gift is investing time into not only talking, but listening to our children–a lost art in this fast-paced, device driven world.

With all of the changes 2020 has brought, Dreezy Claus’ commitment to caring remains the same, albeit mostly virtual visits. ‘Twas the night before his appearance in my Google Classroom a few days ago when I couldn’t sleep, so nervous was I about the link working, students behaving etc. A lesson in faith, I needed only to trust Dreezy’s word and proven ability to deliver on his promises. He was right on time. Spending our morning with him set the tone for the rest of the day. We were encouraged to be our best, knowing that he’s always watching, knows all, and rewards accordingly. Sounds divinely familiar.

If Jesus is the reason for the season (and indeed He is), The Lord is the logic behind our everyday, our all in all. In Andre Russell He is well pleased, and in our lives God has placed Dreezy Claus, a reminder of the fullness of joy.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11

For more information please visit www.dreezyclaus.com

Conjunctivitis, or Pink eye as it is more commonly known, is a highly contagious infection. Children get it a lot. Caused by bacteria that quickly and easily replicates, separates and divides, it causes irritation, congestion and worse case–even blurred vision. It is treatable with compresses, drops, and by protecting one’s eyes and keeping hands clean.

Children of God are called to spread the Good News of the Gospel, that Christ has risen from The Cross and is coming back. Too often we instead share and repeat gossip, or engage in other conduct that separates and divides. Feelings are hurt and communication is clouded, hindering the church’s vision. But if we press into God, allow His word to drop like dew onto our lives, and keep our eyes on Him–He promises to protect us from the ills of sin, cleansing our hands and hearts.

“The Word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient into the faith.”
Acts 6:7

I remember my first time using a microscope. It was probably around 5th or 6th grade. The coldness of the science lab, the height and hardness of the lab table’s countertop, the smell of the solutions…My classmates and I were amazed at the difference when we looked at a slide through the objective lens. What was unseen with the naked eye was made visible. The root was revealed. The specimen magnified, a cell’s nucleus was now made clear.

With this same child-like wonder we should look at life through the lens of the cross. From hosanna to hatred, within a week the people’s hearts grew cold. They hung Him high on a surface hard and rugged. The smell of defeat was pungent, but there was more to the surface than meets the eye. Three days later brought the smell of sweet success when Jesus rose victorious. Keeping the cross, the resurrection as our objective makes a difference. No matter what life brings before us, light shines through the darkest of circumstances when Jesus is the center of our joy.

“Oh magnify The Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
-Psalm 34:3

I recently took my mom to the ophthalmologist. She was experiencing discomfort, dryness, swelling and red eyes. The doctor’s diagnosis? Extreme dryness, visible even without tests or in depth examination. A decrease in blinking has minimized her eyes’ moisture. The doctor went on to suggest punctal plugs. They would help hold on to the little moisture her eyes are still producing.

Faith requires us to keep a laser-like focus on God. Sometimes we are tested, revealing what’s in our hearts. When things don’t go the way we planned or don’t look the way we envisioned we can become uncomfortable, dry with our devotion, swell up with pride and even feel red with anger. But the Word of God suggests that we lift our eyes unto the hills, that we plug into The Lord. Then we can lower our lids, being rest assured that His never close. He will not hinder, but hears, sees, and will help us.

“Look to The Lord and his strength, seek His face always.”
-1 Chronicles 16:11

The worst sound is a phone that never rings. Such is the story of my life as a single woman. Equally disturbing is an unfulfilled promise to “Call you later…” Seeing the non-caller’s real time posts on social media dispels all myths of their busyness, illness or sudden death. Instead it means that you’re simply not on their list of things to do, they’re sick of of you, or you’re dead…to them, lol.

Today almost everyone has their own cell phone, even some of my 1st grade students. Yet with nostalgia my mom still speaks of party lines. Copper wire being of short supply, once upon a time people actually shared phone service. Private calls didn’t exist, but instead subscribers, anyone in the neighborhood who had the same number or was “on your party line,” could listen in on your conversation.

Frightening.

Using phone books and 411 for information is also obsolete. Switchboards, tangled cords, busy and off the hook alarms are all communication of old. And so I was jolted by the present reality, when my phone recently and unexpectedly made a loud noise to warn and text me about the resurgence of the pandemic. It seems these smartphones now have a Ph.D. Cell phones are the new black book, clock, encyclopedia, flashlight, navigation system, planner, FEMA…you name it. But don’t leave home without it. Even sheltered-in-place I bet your phone is within arm’s reach. There is, however, someone who knows more than Google, delivers better than Amazon Prime and with no need for PPE, one who sticks closer than any brother. There is one who will always answer. Jesus.

These last 8 or 9 months have allowed me to put a lot of distractions on silent. I’ve come to realize that while I’ve upgraded my phone, my faith not so much. I go around carelessly speaking more death than life, the enemy all the while listening.

Frightening.

I sometimes forget that Jesus is on the mainline and instead tell any and everybody else what I want. In emergencies I refuse to free the line and allow God to take care of it. Then when He doesn’t answer as fast as I would like I complain, “Can You hear me now?” All the while it’s me who is disconnected. I am grateful that it is never too late to restart. I don’t have to worry about losing everything because Jesus saved me. Even when my signal is weak, The Holy Spirit has the power to get me through.
Any other message to the contrary is scam likely.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
-Jeremiah 33:3