The Ghost of Christmas Present

Last night I was standing in the kitchen preparing a yummy raspberry sauce to serve over the broiled duck I was cooking for SB and me.  The dogs were in the kitchen too – underfoot and hoping to get some morsel that might fall from the countertop.

As I was stirring the sauce, I heard this very loud and audible piece of glass break. I surmised that it had to be an ornament that had fallen from the tree.  It’s not unusual that we lose at least one ornament each year since we have terracota tile throughout most of our house.  If I had a dollar for every dish or glass or ornament we’ve dropped and broken on this floor, I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a job these days!

So I sauntered into the den, broom and dustpan in hand, to sweep up the lastest ornament fatality.  Alas, there was none. I crawled on my knees around the backside of the tree and there was nothing. Zilch. Nada.  “Hmmm,” I thought.  I made my way through the back of the house thinking something evidently had fallen from a shelf or from a chest, but I found nothing.  There are seemingly no windows broken and no new pieces of tile broken.  But I KNOW I heard breaking glass.

It puzzled me and still does this morning because there’s no evidence of glass anywhere in the house. And then it occurred to me.  This next part of the blog will require you to stay with me because I promise… I AM NOT CRAZY!!

Since we bought this house, I have determined that we have a ghost living here.  Until we bought this house eight years ago, I’d never had any encounters with ghosts and quite frankly thought people who spoke of them were a little of the dramatic, embellishing kind.  But I’ve experienced enough encounters in this house that would make a believer out of even the greatest of skeptics.  And they always happen when SB is not here.  Such was the case last night.

I’ve woken in the middle of the night to see dark auras standing next to our bed. I’ve witnessed those same time of movements outside my french doors. I’ve heard noises, people, more than just the regular “it’s just this worn out house” noises.  Things have been moved. Water has been turned on and left running.  It’s the stuff that you read about.  And I have to say, though these things have caused me to feel a little strange, I’ve never been scared.  And I hope that doesn’t change because I don’t like to be scared.  And I’ll have to inject here that SB thinks I’m crazy or that I’m making this stuff up because he hasn’t experienced it for himself.  But a woman knows, doesn’t she?!

But I’m left wondering things like:

Did I really hear that glass break?  I mean, I know I haven’t been fully in the Christmas mood lately, but really? A ghost of Christmas Present?

What is going on and who wants to remain in this house with us?

Is it really a ghost and what does he want?

And why are you choosing this time of year, Mr. Ghost of Christmas Present?

I’m all about closing chapters in one’s life, but shouldn’t that happen while living?  And I’ve already claimed there is no room for spirits – especially evil spirits – to dwell here in my home.  So this whole ordeal has gotten me to thinking about the spirits that try to finagle their way into our lives day in and day out.  They’re noisy, tempting, mysterious, elusive, and confusing.  But the fruits of the Spirit – the One true living Spirit – are love, joy, peace, patience, kindnes, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galations 5:22)

These are the what I pray for to exist in my life and in my home. These are the things that are worthy of breaking glass over -testifying it to the world through celebration.

“And this is how we know he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” 1 John 3:24