I can remember as a kid that shopping with adults was not one of my favorite activities. They took far too long, and I know that I was not always the fun kid to have on a shopping trip.

The tooth ache wouldn’t leave, and I was out of town. You know that pain. Like a great-uncle on the 100th re-telling of the African safari where he almost got gored. That pain. Only everyone’s left the room.

I can’t be bored for even a moment, so I pick up my phone and begin to scroll. So what's the big problem?

This picture used to hang in my dad’s barber shop. Not out where customers would wait for their turn to sit in his barber chair, but in the backroom. As a young child I looked at this picture and found it to be heartwarming and endearing.

“These are my fancy shoes. My mom told me to be careful.”

As we turn to the new year of 2026 there is so much to give thanks to God for the past 365 days and much to look forward to in the coming year.

This will be my last video devotion for the year. Next week I will be focused on planning the Christmas Eve worship at Ascension and the following week we will have grandchildren here so I’m taking a little time off.

I have reached that point in my life where I don’t need Christmas gifts.