At first glance, the movement was a lizard skittering across the top of the fence plank—only this is Scotland and there are no lizards. The tripping motion across the fence turned out to be gale-force wind pushing one of the limbs down the board.

At first glance, or after a quick glance, I often spot things that aren’t there. When I visited son Luke and wife Delight in Florida one Christmas, I marveled at the Christmas lights in the shape of Texas on the end of a house in their neighborhood. I thought to myself, “Even folks who don’t live in Texas are proud of Texas.” By daylight, I discovered that the lights were bunched around a small window and were not intentionally fashioned to honor my home state.

Tall strangers hanging out around street signs or beside street lights; off-leash dogs circling trash bins; western covered wagons trains that turn out to be old camper van shells—even eyes, faces, and strange shapes amid the laundry in the basket.

At first glance.

One thing I got exactly right at first glance. The timeless, eternal story of Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and King above all kings.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son what whoever believes in Him should not perish but should have eternal life. John 3:16.

Every glance at the CHRISTmas story reveals God’s love for us and it never changes.

Merry CHRISTmas, y’all! God bless you.

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