7 minute read
Extinguished Expectations
from December 2021
Gò0dNews for Everyone
Extinguished Expectations
Advertisement
by Monica Gambrell
Isuspect we all know someone who has to have everything “just so.” Unfortunately, I am that person. My chaotic mind craves my outward world to have such organization as to create order and resulting peace. Thankfully, God gave me a mother who desperately tried to instill a sense of impulsivity in me (who did not appreciate it at all). My husband also did his best to break me out of my ordered world. I did make strides, but God knows it was completely challenging for me.
Having had a very tumultuous childhood, I have a deep desire to give my children the comfort of some firstgeneration traditions. On Christmas Eve, we allowed the children to open one small gift after having read the Christmas story from the Bible. To create a sense of ambiance, I left the Christmas tree lights burning all night long through the month of December. Since our children desired the humble stocking stuffers more than the other gifts, I slept on the sofa on Christmas Eve to ensure that the stockings did not get emptied until morning. Because the children did not immediately go to sleep, I usually ended up waking the entire household with excited shrieks of: “It’s Christmas! Come open gifts!” We would have every light in the house turned off and open gifts solely by the light of the tree.
On one particular Christmas, Mr. Nobody (a mystery child of mine) opened the front door so our outdoor cat, Lucy, could enjoy the festivities as well. She was mostly black with small white markings on her face. I did not know she was there until later. The children had scarcely begun opening gifts when Lucy came racing out of the dark, and as quick as a flash ran up the center of our artificial tree. Her weight at the top of the tree sent the tree crashing down so fast that we were momentarily dumbfounded. Suddenly, it was lights-out, and we found ourselves in stark darkness. I must admit there was a time when my expectations for our lovely tradition being extinguished may have placed a damper on our experience but in a split second, we were all laughing so hilariously at the situation that there was no time to consider anything else. We simply turned the light on, retrieved the terrified cat, and enjoyed each other to the fullest. Genesis 48:11—And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well!”
Job 30:26—When I expected good, evil came; When I waited for light, darkness came.
Isaiah 5:4—What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?
There are ample opportunities for even the most hopeless among us to set aside what we expect and deal with what comes in place of it. In this world, things will rarely be as we expect them to be. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith. When our heart is centered on Jesus, we can let go of the minutia of life and know the depth of what is truly significant.
Come by and see us for all your prescription needs and let us become prescription needs and let us become
PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY Dalton’s Preferred Pharmacy for Over 50 Years! 55 your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! your Hometown Independent Pharmacy!
Dalton’s Preferred Pharmacy for Over 50 Years! Come by and see us for all your prescription needs and let us become your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! •Flu Shots •Full Service Gift Shop Specializing in Newborn Gift Baskets •We Accept Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Benny Cards •We Offer Professional Counseling on all Medications •We Offer Diabetic Education
t County Wide Delivery
Se Habla Español
55 Dalton’s Preferred Pharmacy for Over 50 Years! Come by and visit us for all your Come by and see us for all your prescription needs and let us become your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! prescription needs and let us become your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! •Flu Shots • Flu Shots •Full Service Gift Shop • Pneumonia Vaccine Specializing in Newborn Gift Baskets • Shingles Vaccine •We Accept Flexible Full Service Compounding • We Accept Flexible Spending Spending Account Center Offering Specialty Drug Compounding Account (FSA) & Benny Cards (FSA) and Benny Cards and Veterinary Drug • We Offer Diabetic Education •We Offer Professional Counseling Compounding • Newborn Baby Gifts on all Medications • Specialty Chocolates & Candies •We Offer Diabetic Education • Balloons Diabetic Footwear. Offering Free
Se Habla Español
(706) 278-2490
55 Dalton’s Preferred Pharmacy For Over 57 Years! Come by and see us for all your Come by and visit us for all your prescription needs and let us become Come by and visit us for all your prescription needs and let us become your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! prescription needs and let us become your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! •Flu Shots •Full Service Gift Shop • Flu Shots Specializing in Newborn Gift Baskets •We Accept Flexible• Pneumonia Vaccine Spending Account • Shingles Vaccine Full Service Compounding Center Offering (FSA) and Benny Cards Specialty Drug Compounding • We Accept Flexible Spending •We Offer Professional Counseling and Veterinary Drug Compounding Account (FSA) & Benny Cards on all Medications • We Offer Diabetic Education •We Offer Diabetic Education • Newborn Baby Gifts
• Specialty Chocolates & Candies Our Pharmacists: Dr. Jason P. Sneed, Pharmacy Manager
• Balloons Diabetic Footwear. Offering Free •Cookie Cook, RPh. • Mark Smith, RPh. •Dr. Tammy Houston Custom Fittings and Foot Exams We Accept All Major Insurance Plans
t County Wide Delivery
1100 Burleyson Road •Dalton, GA (706) 278-2490
•Flu Shots •Full Service Gift Shop Come by and visit us for all your Specializing in Newborn Gift Baskets prescription needs and let us become •We Accept Flexible Spending Account your Hometown Independent Pharmacy! (FSA) and Benny Cards •We Offer Professional Counseling on all Medications •We Offer Diabetic Education • Flu Shots • Pneumonia Vaccine
Our Pharmacists: • Shingles Vaccine Dr. Jason P. Sneed, Pharmacy Manager Full Service Compounding
• We Accept Flexible Spending •Cookie Cook, RPh. • Mark Smith, RPh. •Dr. Tammy Houston Center Offering Specialty Drug Compounding Account (FSA) & Benny Cards and Veterinary Drug Compounding• We Offer Diabetic Education • Newborn Baby Gifts We Accept All Major Insurance Plans
t Count • Specialty Chocolates & Candiesy Wide Delivery
• Balloons Diabetic Footwear. Offering Free Se Habla Español Custom Fittings
(Speak Spanish) www.professionalpharmacydalton.com 187648 and Foot Exams
Open when you need us 365 days a year! Monday thru Friday 8 am - 8 pm, Saturday 9 am - 8 pm - Sunday 11 am - 7 pm 1100 Burleyson Road •Dalton, GA (706) 278-2490
• Flu Shots • Pneumonia Vaccine • Shingles Vaccine Full Service Compounding Center Offering• We Accept Flexible Spending Specialty Drug Compounding
Account (FSA) & Benny Cards and Veterinary Drug Compounding• We Offer Diabetic Education • Newborn Baby Gifts • Specialty Chocolates & Candies • Balloons Diabetic Footwear. Offering Free Custom Fittings and Foot Exams Open when you need us 365 days a year! Monday thru Friday 8 am - 8 pm, Saturday 9 am - 8 pm - Sunday 11 am - 7 pm 1100 Burleyson Road •Dalton, GA (706) 278-2490
• Flu Shots • Pneumonia Vaccine • Shingles Vaccine • Newborn Baby Gifts • We Accept FSA & Benny Cards • We Offer Diabetic Education • Specialty Chocolates & Candies • Balloons
EL
POLLO
ALEGRE
Mexican Bar-B-Que Grill (706) 259-7998 323 S. Grimes St.
Dalton, GA 30721
