The Twelve Days Of...

By Bob Steinkamp

Returned prodigal Bob Steinkamp wrote this book subtitled, "Thoughts on being alone, yet loved, during the holidays" to help you go through the Christmas holidays alone without your beloved husband or wife. Remember, God is with you all the time. Even if your spouse is gone this Christmas, you need to celebrate the birth of your Savior, Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301405251

Book preview

THE TWELVE DAYS OF…

By Bob Steinkamp

Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

Post Office Box 10548

Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA

http://rejoiceministries.org/

All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the publisher.

Scripture Quotations are from the King James Version or the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Published by Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 1992 by Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 - The First Day

Chapter 2 - The Second Day

Chapter 3 - The Third Day

Chapter 4 - The Fourth Day

Chapter 5 - The Fifth Day

Chapter 6 - The Sixth Day

Chapter 7 - The Seventh Day

Chapter 8 - The Eighth Day

Chapter 9 - The Ninth Day

Chapter 10 - The Tenth Day

Chapter 11 - The Eleventh Day

Chapter 12 - The Twelfth Day

Epilogue

Meet The Steinkamps

The Greatest News

Ten Sources of Help

Connect With Rejoice Ministries

INTRODUCTION

What a perfect ending to a perfect day! The time was about 7:00 PM. The day was Thanksgiving. Having once again eaten too much I leaned back from the table and silently considered the blessings in life that were mine. There were nineteen of us, family and friends, sitting around the T-shaped tables in our family room.

Lori, our eighteen year-old daughter, has always been the organizer in the family. On occasions such as this, she's the one who always accepts responsibility for planning a sharing time. Tonight she'd asked each of us to share the one thought for which we were most thankful. Although everyone participated, I wondered how some of the individuals in our mixed group could honestly be that thankful, considering their circumstances.

The husband of one guest recently moved out of their home, abandoning his wife and three children, as well as his leadership position on our church board, for other interests. Ann's husband had recently died. Another young couple, parents of a new baby, had seemingly impossible financial problems. Serious health problems affected at least three others.

Tim, our oldest son, recently moved into his own apartment. His interest in the things of God has been replaced by interest in developing his small business. Lori faces decisions regarding college, her life mate, and God's will for her vocation. Tom, now thirteen, is beginning that journey through the adolescent years that is often difficult for so many. My wife, Charlyne, remains faithful in her service to our Lord in spite of some chronic health difficulties.

Like most men, I am concerned that I often fail in being the Christian head of our family. Am I doing exactly what Jesus wants me to do? How will I meet the financial needs of our family in the days and years ahead? Regardless of everything else, we're together as a family. For that I'm most thankful.

My thoughts flashed back to a Thanksgiving five years ago. Dinner for me that day was a frozen turkey dinner that I ate alone on a folding card table in a small motel room. Charlyne and I were going through a divorce. I hated holidays. I hated being alone. Two years later, to the glory of God, we were remarried. The painful memories of that Thanksgiving and of the Christmas season that followed will remain with me forever.

During those confusing and often-overwhelming days of separation and divorce, I had felt abandoned and unloved by anyone. At times I felt that God was far away and that even He had stopped loving me. After our remarriage, I made an interesting discovery. During those earlier dark days, people still loved me. Many prayed for our family every day. Somehow, I just hadn't been able at the time to grasp the concept of their love.

As I sat at this year's Thanksgiving table, listening to our family and friends relate their thankfulness, I regretted that I couldn't find the words to express to each the thoughts that could make this holiday season not merely bearable, but enjoyable. The concept is love, but the words escaped me. Then I recalled 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13. Yes, that's love--in spite of circumstances. Maybe someday I would find the time to bring together my random thoughts on love while alone during the holidays.

After the dishes were cleared away, one of the long tables borrowed from our church fellowship hall was folded out of the way. As a friend helped me carry the table, it came to me. No, not another idea on love, but pain. Acute and severe pain. Instantly more pain than I had ever known. A few minutes later I was starting a quick trip to the hospital, where a stone problem was about to be diagnosed.

The next few hours are a blur. Although swift medical attention was given, it soon became apparent that many days were going to pass before I was healthy again. As the recovery began, I really wasn't sick. I just didn't feel well. Sensing that it was time for a writing project, I reflected on my Thanksgiving table thoughts. Now I had the time to bring together my experiences and thoughts on our loneliness, our love, and our Lord.

Christmas is coming. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit may take the words penned by a man and make His application to your life situation. May this be a Merry Christmas for both of us. God bless you as you read.

Bob Steinkamp

Back To Table Of Contents

CHAPTER 1

THE FIRST DAY

Love is very patient and kind.

Last night shortly after dusk, there came a knock at our front door. Standing there was a man about 35 years old. He appeared not to have bathed nor shaven for several days. He carried a tattered suitcase and a dirty bedroll. On his face he wore a smile.

Mr. Steinkamp, I thought you might want these things, so I brought them to you, he said. That peaceful smile never varied. I immediately recognized the loose items in his hand. Ten days ago, the day before Thanksgiving, Charlyne made a hurried stop at the dry cleaners to pick up our bedspread. While unlocking the car, she made the mistake of placing her wallet on top of the car, and she drove away with it still there. Despite our immediate and repeated attempts to retrace her route home, the wallet couldn't be located.

Although the missing credit cards had been canceled and our budget adjusted to compensate for the few dollars in cash that had been lost, our family prayed and remained hopeful for the return of the wallet. After all, I had returned a wallet I found just a few months ago. It seemed that having my wife's walled returned was the least God could do for people like us who are trying to live for Him. Actually, I expected to find the wallet during one of those several search missions the