If my counting is correct my friends, this is the 11^th day of Christmas.  I’m already humming, “On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .”

The twelve days of Christmas mark the period between Christmas and Epiphany.  They may be best known for the Christmas carol in which the singer brags about all the cool gifts they receive from their “true love.”

So, today, on the 11^th, my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping.  I tried to imagine eleven bagpipers serenading in my living room – scary thought!   Plus, I’m told that the cost of this gift would set you back $2,748 in today’s dollars.  I’ll pass.

There is a legend that the gifts in this song represent Christian teachings.  It may or may not be true, but the eleven pipers are said to represent the eleven faithful apostles.  So why not use this day to remember those disciples, the first to spread the message of Jesus and writers of our gospels.

Do you picture them seated with Jesus at the Last Supper?  Leonardo da Vinci’s lovely and famous painting depicts them all seated on one side of a long table.   Not likely, I presume.

I think it’s most helpful to remember that they were plain ordinary men.  There were doubts and denials.  There were fishermen and a tax collector.  There were imprisonments and martyrdom.  They had moments of weakness and moments of strength.  However ordinary, Jesus used them.

He can use you and me.  He can surround us with his unconditional love to change us, to empower us.  We too can spread His love and His word.  Sounds like a good way to start a new year.

Judy