Honestly, I don’t even remember how it started or when.

I am going to guess five years ago, one of our staff in the Weekend Experience area asked if we could have the entire staff help in decorating GFC. It was becoming too much strain on their small group of people and with all the extra hands, it would go a lot faster.

Brilliance comes in many ways!

WE just finished our Staff Decorating Day. Now that our staff is about 80 people, it is really one of the funnest days of the year at our offices. We start with breakfast together in the foyer at 8am. Everyone is tasked to bring either a breakfast or lunch item. A lot of energy as people gather before blessing the food – talking, laughing and connecting. We have a great breakfast! Some people are known for their “dish” and we look forward to them making it. Once it is blessed, we eat and hang out. It is cool to see people just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.

Then,the magic of the day begins for me. We all get our assignments. I was on the Jingle Bell team this year and we were tasked to decorate the trees in the main offices. The magic isn’t the work – it is the time with the people on our staff. We all work hard at our jobs to create opportunities for people to grow in their relationship with Christ. This is a great time to enjoy those relationships in a different way. Let me give you some highlights from this year. I made tree chains with Mauricio (Printing Supervisor) who told me of his Christmas traditions in Dominican Republic growing up. Amazing stories. Charles (Director of Artwork) and I cut up on movies and last years staff ornaments. Kenyatta (180 Jr High) caught me up on his life while decorating the trees. Kaye (pastor’s wife) showed me how to measure a yard without a measurement stick while catching up. Alex shared his experience of how he came to GFC over lunch. JohnMichael caught me up on his life while I held hanging ceiling decorations for him. These are just a few interactions. Here is the magic – I see these folks and enjoy being with them when we are working. But I rarely get to slow down and just let them share their stories. When they do, it is pure gold to me.

I even got to see my oldest daughter, Taylor, who stopped by to drop off some projects to some of our staff members. It has become a “family” type day – wives, babies and grandchildren do have a way of dropping in to just say high to everyone and snag a cookie or two.

The GFC campus does get decorated. But, the huge win is the staff relationships are adorned in a different way. Relationship is far more important than the task. Isn’t that the way it should be?