Count It All Joy by Ashea S. Goldson Read Free Book Online Page B

Alex is not really my mommy,” Lilah said.
    Joshua and I looked at each other in horror, and then I squeezed his hand.
    â€œDon’t worry about what Grandma said,” Joshua replied.
    I hopped out of bed and leaped past both of them. “Let’s see what Jesus blessed us with this year.”
    I marveled to myself at the way I had decorated the apartment, with fresh holly, a live tree with lights, porcelain ornaments, and stringed popcorn around the tree. Each of the windows had silver lighted angels in them, complete with silver tinsel as well. Yes, I was very pleased with myself.
    After I got dressed in a simple green and black pantsuit and we opened the gifts, we played one of Lilah’s new video games with her, then gathered one of her new dolls and we went down to the church to serve meals to the homeless.
    First, we set up the chairs and folding tables with red and white tablecloths and little fake holly centerpieces. We hung up a huge banner that read “The King is Born” before the men, women, and children started filing in. Some of the people looked like they had been down on their luck for a long time, but others looked like average people who maybe had a bad month or a bad year. Maybe they were recently widowed or unemployed. Maybe their spouses were laid off, or they had an unexpected family emergency that set them back. Maybe they had become ill and had fallen behind in medical bills. Whether they were low on cash or low in spirit, we had to rescue them. Whatever their reasons for being there, they were human beings, and they deserved to be served with as much dignity as possible.
    We took so many privileges for granted on a daily basis, living the good life whether we saw it that way or not. We were unequivocally blessed, and therefore, we had a responsibility to pass that blessing on, not just with natural food but with spiritual food as well. Pastor Martin blessed the food, and everyone proceeded to eat a mixture of turkey, stuffing, collard greens, rice with gravy, fried chicken, cranberry sauce, candied yams, baked macaroni and cheese, cabbage, red velvet cake, and peach cobbler. Loose conversations spun off between tables before Pastor Martin came forward with a brief holiday message.
    â€œI’m not going to preach today, but I am going to say what Christmas is not. It’s not about jingling bells or snowmen, reindeer or elves,” Pastor Martin said. “It’s not even about pretty decorations, parties, or receiving gifts. The meaning is deeper than this. You see, Jesus is our gift, and His gift to us is His love. The very miracle of His birth and life is what we celebrate during this season, not the commercial items we are bombarded with in the media every day. No matter how hard they push us to buy, buy, buy, Jesus is still king and He still sits on the throne. So sing a song about Him today and get into the real holiday spirit. Come to Jesus.”
    Then the choir sang “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” followed by an altar call.
    The church was so packed with volunteers, members, and nonmembers alike that cleanup was not easy. Afterward, I sat down on the cafeteria bench, took off my pumps, and rubbed my sore feet.
    â€œTold you that you should’ve worn your sneakers,” Joshua whispered in my ear.
    â€œOh, leave me alone.” I waved him away and laughed.
    Later, Joshua, Lilah, and I hopped into the Navigator and headed to the Benning’s house for dinner.
    While we were riding I wondered what antics of Mother Benning’s we would face this time.
    There was always something going on with that woman; like nothing I did ever pleased her. It was a mystery to me how Bishop Benning managed to stay married to her—and managed to stay sane at the same time. I sighed and put on a fresh layer of lipstick so I could start out on the right foot.
    When we arrived, Mother Benning met us at the door in a charming gold-colored shoulderless dress. I