Visiting with my brother-in-Christ and his family was one of the things I looked forward to this Christmas as I was planning the trip to Indiana. The main purpose of the trip was to spend Christmas with my children and grandchildren, since the visit coincided with my granddaughter Tyra’s four-year birthday celebration.
This was going to be a Family Christmas but as is the case, getting everyone together at one place and time is a modern-day headache. So as it turns out, only four of my six children were able to be at this gathering. My son Mel traveled from Arkansas, while I and my other son Paul with my niece made the long trip to Indiana. Caleb and Samare, my two other children, could not make the trip. My daughter Joyce was hosting Christmas since Cynthia my oldest daughter hosted Thanksgiving.
We arrived on Christmas Eve and had family time together. The plan was to stop at my brother’s on our way back, but there was nothing much to do until my granddaughter’s birthday celebration on the 30th. When I discovered that Cincinnati was just two hours from Indianapolis, I thought it was a good idea to make the trip then later.
On my way, I was undecided as to what to carry for my niece and nephew, since Christmas had just passed and they may have gotten a lot of gifts and toys already. When I arrived, the Christmas tree was still up and the two took turns showing me all their exciting presents, and after that we had dinner.
Since arriving I had been wanting to take off my shoes, but didn’t know the house rules so I kept my shoes on. But when I glanced at my sister-in-law’s feet, she was barefooted, so I joined right in. After catching up with old and new stories, my brother led the family devotions and we went to bed.
I woke up early the next morning and showered. I got so comfortable walking around withoud shoes that I was mid-way into dressing when I realized I was barefooted. I could not believe that I took a shower and walked on my bare feet. Who does that? The truth is, I had conformed to my environment just like that. Conformity is contagious, that is why the Bible says in Romans 12:2 that we should not be conformed to the standards of this world but instead be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
During 2019, let part of your declaration for this new year be to conform to positive things, positive people, a positive environment and positive influences — above all, conforming to God’s acceptable and perfect will for our lives as we strive to transform our negative surroundings.
In the absence of positive role models, let us be that transforming light to be emulated by those around us.

Felecia Wesley lives in Salisbury.