3 French Hens

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 According to my very scientific (google) search, the 3 French Hens represent the 3 theological virtues of Hope, Faith and Charity.  It resonates with me that these three are theological virtues because without God they are not possible long term.  

Hope:  For me, hope means believing in the better way, believing change will come, believing that good exists and will prosper.  Hope is not giving up or giving in to dispair, but rather searching for the optimistic and ever-possible.  Without hope I could not follow the news, or show up for church every week, or stay in relationships with family and friends.  Hope is this sparkly, glittery thread that weaves in and out of the present into the future and back again to wrap around us and keep pulling us forward.  Romans 5:5 says this:  

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

yes and amen.

Faith:  Oh my.  Faith is a hard one.  Faith is stepping out of the boat believing Jesus who walked on water will allow us to do the same.  We can never know if it is possible to walk on water unless we take the boat off the shore, row out to the deep waters of life, fix our eyes on Jesus and take a deep breath.  We can never know if we can walk on water unless we know that Jesus did it first and if he says we can, than we can.  Faith says you can't just take Jesus' word for it.  We have to swing our legs over the side of the boat, shove our hips off the edge and stand on the waves.  Faith.  The opposite of faith is fear and if reading this section made your heartbeat speed up a bit know that mine did too.  Fear is powerful.  Fear is also a liar and from the devil and has no business trying to creep in to the space where Jesus dwells.  In fact it cannot.  Did you know that?  The devil cannot be in the presence of God.  Choose faith over fear because as uncomfortable as faith is, fear is worse.  

Ephesians 2:8 says this:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

yes and amen.

Charity (aka love):  Charity....the selfless giving and sharing and offering to someone else something they need.  Goodnes knows this is my absolute favorite part of the Christmas season!  Random people reach out to me sometimes and ask if I know of someone they can bless with Christmas gifts.  Children bring shoe boxe into church full of presents for the Operation christmas child ministry....generosity overflows toward charities in the holiday season.  Christians and non-Christians alike enjoy this spirit of giving and sharing.  It's just inspiring and wonderful!  The opposite of charity is selfishness.  It is small and ugly and bitter and angry and entitled.  We all know where it comes from by now, don't we.  No further explanation needed.  

Galatians 6:9 says this:

Let us not vecome weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  

don't give up.  don't lose faith, work to share hope in Jesus.  yes.  and amen. 3 French Hens.  

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