“For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
The star had been put up the previous night. A big star that my dad, brother, and I put together each year, as a traditional start to the Christmas season. When we woke up in the morning, we knew what was in store. The sound of kneading flour from the kitchen made us sigh. It was kul-kul making day! We heard Mom calling, and we settled down at the dining table with an air of resignation. Kul-kuls were great to eat but making them wasn’t.
A round ball of dough was placed in front of us along with a fork. We knew the drill – break off a piece of dough, roll it into a ball and then flatten it on the back of the fork. We looked at the huge mound of dough and groaned. This was going to cost us many hours of playtime, but we set to work. Suddenly, at our feet, a furry accomplice pushed her way in. It was Buddy, our pet dog. She knew this was a good time to be under the table. Why? Because when a piece of dough “accidentally” slipped from our fork, she would quickly consume it, with no tell- tale evidence of the missing dough. The end result? The work went faster, the dough got smaller, the kul-kuls mounted up (though not in proportion to the original amount of dough), and that evening, Buddy had an upset stomach.
When I think of it now, as an adult, I am tempted to focus on the wasted dough, that we were deceiving my mother or the unhealthy feeding of a dog. Instead, I hold on to the joy of those memories. A star hanging from our porch, kul-kuls fried on a stove and a contented furry pet at our feet. One word captures this perfect picture – peace. The prophet Isaiah foretold that the coming Messiah was the “Prince of Peace.” Though peace is elusive today, as we look at the turmoil around us, it is also true that when we seek Jesus, the first thing we find is peace amidst our tumultuous circumstances. The true peace He gives is something the world can’t give or take away. May this peace abide in your homes, and impact others this season.
Dear Father, in this tumultuous world, help me to propagate this peace, which You have placed in my heart. Please fill me till I overflow. Amen.
– Ps. Cecil Clements
