When I was twelve years old, I received what would become my favorite Christmas present. It was a pair of white roller skates with a shiny carrying case. They were a gift from my parents. My sister already had a pair of skates, and I was so glad to finally have a pair of my own.

We went skating at the Polish Club in Bristol, CT during the winter and at Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol during the summer months, After skating, we would go to the Palace of Sweets for an ice cream treat. To this day, I think of my skates whenever I have ice cream. The memory of the hours I spent on my roller skates is a precious memory for me. I got a sticker every time we skated, and I put them on my carrying case. It was eventually covered with multi-colored stickers, and each one made me smile because it reminded me of hours spent when I was totally happy.

I no longer have my roller skates. Like so many other childhood treasures, they were left behind when I grew up, but I remember them every Christmas. They were the best present I ever received. Sometimes I wish I had a length of red ribbon for every mile I skated. I would take that ribbon out every December and wind it around my Christmas tree so I could look at it and remember the joy a simple pair of roller skates brought to me.

~ Judy Moots

Psalm 85

Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
² Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
³ Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
⁴ Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
⁵ Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
⁶ Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
⁷ Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
⁸ I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
¹⁰ Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
¹¹ Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
¹² Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
¹³ Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Prayer

Liberating God, You led Your people Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom. We thank You for the freedom we experienced through childhood gifts of bicycles, tricycles and roller skates. Using these gifts we could move faster and explore more. We thank You that Jesus died on the cross to free us from our bondage to sin. Help us to appreciate and enjoy our freedom in Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.