I am a Christmas person..full fledged, all out happiness and enjoyment of every single Christmas thing! And I love,love, love making Christmas stuff! So my ability to crochet comes in very handy each year. And I have realized all over again this year the true Wonder of Christmas, and the impact of His birth through my very simple project.

I am using this simple shower curtain ring ($1.00 for 12) and crocheting all around it, then adding bows ($1.00 for 18), ornaments ($1.00 for 10) and a yarn ribbon (scrap yarn) to create this

Amazing, isn’t it? Not that it’s going to win any awards, or that it’s spectacular…but it looks NOTHING like it did! And let’s face it…a tree decorated with clear shower curtain rings would look weird..but a tree with wreaths is perfectly acceptable, colorful, and pretty to look at. And that’s the way I like my Christmas, just simple beauty that inspires me throughout the season. And although I try for consistency in my stitches and decor, not one of these is really identical..they no longer look like all the other shower curtain rings, and they don’t look like each other..they have their own special design and attraction.

All of which leads me to the point of this blog..the first Christmas, the best Christmas, was just like that. When I was debating my project for this year, I went to the store and just browsed awhile for inspiration. And believe it or not, the shower curtain rings did NOT jump up and say “pick us! Pick us! I saw them, remembered an old craft idea, and bought them because I could USE them. Sound familiar? Mary and Joseph were the same way. They did not know God’s plan for redemption, and if they had they would not likely have been clamoring for the opportunity to be supernaturally pregnant out of wedlock and have that to explain! But God chose them, because He could use them.

As in any Christmas craft, I am not making my wreaths for myself..the joy is in giving them to others, blessing them with a little sparkle and hope for Christmas. Likewise, God did not have Jesus come into this world for Himself..He did not craft the Baby Jesus in Mary’s womb except to save us, bless us, and give us the gift of hope through eternal life! Isn’t that wonderful? And while my transformation of plastic rings is pretty, it is temporary. God’s transformation, however, is spectacular, overwhelming, perfect, and eternal! When you know this in your heart, and have submitted to His will for your life, you will experience this for yourself.

So how are you as we begin this Christmas season? Ard you a plastic ring in a sea of other plastic rings with no hope of change? Or have you come to know that there is a Master Craftsman, who has chosen you to be saved and recreated in Him? Have you experienced His transforming power and become a brand new, one of a kind design, different from every other one in this world?

If you don’t know Jesus, there’s no better time than Christmas to seek Him! And if you do know Him, and are feeling a little jaded or useless, maybe it’s time to review the wonder of the manger, and let Him “dust you off” and get you back to your unique purpose and design for His glory!