Before Thanksgiving we purchased a new...

...refrigerator while it was on sale. It took a week to come back in stock and was delivered a day or two before Thanksgiving Day.

Larger and with more doors it also is the first for us with water and ice through the door. The delivery personal were unable to hook up the water line because it was “too short.” It is an existing line previously installed by a previous tenant. When I came home I looked at it and hooked it up. It was just the right length. I installed the water filter and turned on the valve, got a cup and filled it up two or three times to flush the line and fridge. The first cup was lukewarm and so I thought must be water sitting in the line. The second cup was a little warmer but the third cup was hot. So hot I had to put the cup down. I thought what is up with this.

I looked under the sink to trace the connection for the water line our previous refrigerator had an ice maker that never kept up especially in the summer time. This new one has two ice makers. Recently the old one made ice cubes that were hollow never completely frozen solid like you expect. When I found the source of the water line I discovered the problem. The water line for the icemaker and water dispenser had tapped into the HOT water line of the dishwasher. No wonder the water was hot in my test cup.

That previous icemaker had been making ice for 7 years with hot water. No wonder the cubes were sometimes hollow. Honestly, it did a pretty good job considering the supply source temperature. This week as Christmas gets into full swing I thought of this in light of our Christmas celebration and preparation leading up to Dec. 25^th.

The heavenly host spoke to the shepherds “tidings of great joy.” Is that how we feel in the rush to party and shop and cook and wrap and…? It seems we are doing pretty good considering that our source is often times NOT the Savior but the season. But that source, like the ice cubes, leaves us hollow inside. We watch the warm and fuzzy Hallmark Christmas specials and the commercials that make us feel good for a moment but never tap into the Joy of Christ at Christmas. We fail to take time to unwrap the gift of Jesus that Christmas is all about. He alone is the source of joy that never ends, never runs dry and never, ever fails. The angel told Mary nothing is impossible with God. Joy to the world can be for a follower of Jesus a lifestyle and not a season. It all depends on the source!

Well, after discovering the source of hot water I purchased the necessary valve and hose to correct the supply. Now both ice makers are supplying more ice than we use daily. Cold water flows through the door unto waiting cups all because of the source being wrong.

Wrong source hollow fragile ice!

Right source sold hard ice!

IT is easy to tap into the wrong source in any season of life. Jesus has always been the only source that develops sold, stable, hardened lives that last for eternity. Consider your source this Christmas.