Our refrigerator has a notorious reputation in the family. It’s a bit crammed and running over with strange condiments. There’s no real explanation other than Othel and I enjoy a variety of foods, dips, spreads and jellies. Most are preserved with vinegars, spices or tight lids, so there are few expiration dates. That usually means capacity warning for our frig.

I describe that appliance because it was the explanation to my Monday morning Christmas chaos. I overslept which was extremely unusual, so everything began as late Monday. Not good!

Othel needed a bag to carry some Christmas deliveries, so I went to the guest room to seek out one. The bed was strewn with unwrapped presents, paper and ribbon. My mental deadline calendar sent up a warning light. The den was semi-cluttered from unloading stuff from our weekend visit to Guntersville and definitely not the way it should look for guests we invited for Tuesday breakfast.

Suddenly a crash rushed me to the kitchen. Othel had reached for the milk that was sharing space with a jar of dill pickles. The milk pushed the pickles and with a crash pickles spun over the floor amid the broken glass and pickle juice.

Othel began apologizing for the mess, but I apologized to him and the frig for the overload for which I was to blame. Now an aroma of vinegar permeated our living area and routed the fragrance of Christmas.

Would the chaotic beginning to this special week rout my Christmas Spirit, too? NO.

Peace had come to earth, and I was a blessed, indwelt recipient of that peace.

I lit two candles, mopped up the pickle juice and in the glow of our Christmas tree listened to “Mary, Did You Know?” I also made a mental resolution to simplify the fridge contents next week as I began singing, “Joy to the World.” Let ever-ry-e heart— art- art, prepare -er Him room —oom  . . .”

May all of our hearts be “overloaded” with the greatest of all Christmas gifts.

Merry, merry Christmas and peace to men on earth.

Letters to Camille Anding can be sent to P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS, 39602, or e-mailed to camille@datalane.net.