Christmas Isn't Over

Maybe you're like me and you feel a little sad with Christmas over and done.  There is so much to do and such excitement before Christmas. Cooking, parties, church services, singing, shopping, wrapping, tagging, decorating and family get togethers.

Then

Suddenly

It's over. Done. Gone.

The new grandchild has gone home and there are no gifts under the tree.  The house is a wreck (it did start spotless, really).  We've sung Silent Night by candlelight.

Now begins the BIG letdown.  I begin to wonder why we go to all this trouble every year. Why do we stress ourselves so much for an evening and a day?

So, I shake off the worldly view of Christmas and take on the meaning from my faith.  Advent means "coming".  He is coming.  During Christmas we celebrate that God came to us as a helpless baby, in the humblest of circumstances.  Let's let that sink in for a moment...

God left his throne in heaven to come to earth and experience life as a human among his creation.

Pretty powerful, huh?

Why did he do it?  He could have just stayed in heaven.  He could have even "fixed us" from heaven.  But if He did that, what kind of relationship would we have with Him?  Would we really understand the depth of His unconditional love for us?  No way.

He came to us in Bethlehem. That's past tense. He comes to us every moment we allow Him in.

He comes to us when our hearts break with the loss of loved ones. He comes to us when we feel alone and afraid. He comes to us when we overflow with love for our spouse and children. He comes to us when we are discouraged by the injustice in the world. He comes to us on the innocent, perfect face of a baby.

He comes in power, in truth, in grace, in love. He comes even though we are undeserving.  He comes no matter who we are or what we've done.  He comes because he loves us.

Christmas isn't over. Because Jesus comes to us in a million small ways every day. Stop, pause, see Him.  In the present. He's never leaving.  The joy of Christmas is never over. 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

Be love and be blessed,

You Can't Make Sense Of It

My husband read to me the horrible headline from Connecticut yesterday morning.  I was shocked and saddened, but put it out of my mind to focus on work.  I just couldn't dwell on it at that moment.

It wasn't until the evening news came on and I heard the story, watched the anguished faces of parents and the fear stricken voices of little children, that grief grabbed hold of my heart.  I shook my head and cried.  In disbelief.  In sorrow. Asking the question nearly every person in America asked, "Why?".

People interviewed used the phrase "trying to make sense of it".  The more I thought of that, the greater my conviction that You Can't Make Sense Of It.

"The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God..."  Romans 8:7

People often ask after a tragedy like this, "Where was God?", or "Why did God do this?".  God doesn't do evil, humans do.

Those who are not focused on God have opened a door into which evil may enter.  Some open the door willingly because they love evil and have a heart hardened against God and goodness.  Others open the door by virtue of a sick mind that cannot help itself. The evil one takes full advantage and makes a home in their hearts and minds. He uses their weakness to destroy the lives and hope of as many people as possible. And, he takes great joy in our suffering.

God is grieved when we allow evil to rein in our lives.  He suffers with us when we are hurt. The Spirit sighs in sorrow.

The loss of 20 sweet, precious babies and 7 beloved adults makes no sense. We live in a world that, by our choices, we have made evil, choosing sin over goodness in small and enormous ways.

People are wondering what we can do.  In the days ahead there will be calls for societal changes to stop the insane violence that claims innocent lives. And that in itself may lead to positive outcomes, but it won't eliminate the evil in the world.

Until Christ comes again to claim His Kingship and slay the evil one, we will live in a fallen and sometimes cruel world.  Our only hope is to set our sights on God, spend time with Him so His goodness penetrates our souls, and ...... PRAY.

It makes no sense - this killing of babies.  And, it is especially painful because we are in a season of celebration, of hope, of love. We will ask the question "Why?" again and again. There is no satisfactory answer.  Let us ask instead, "How do we get through this and maintain hope?"

"If God is with us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:31-32 & 38-39.

Be love and be blessed,

It Takes A Village

I always thought that was a rather hokey cliche. But, I've come to realize the truth in this short statement over the past 4 months. A beautiful and precious new life came to us 4 months ago when our grandson was born. His mama had visions of a peaceful angel nursing sweetly at her breast.  And, of a quiet, slumbering babe napping in his new carefully chosen crib.

What we envision as "perfect" in our minds is often not the messy reality that is our lives. Sawyer didn't peacefully nurse, and has yet to spend his first night in his crib. His mother is so sleep deprived that the weariness has settled deep into her soul. She has never known such utter fatigue.  His Dad says this is "the hardest thing I've ever done".

My husband and I (Pop and Gammy) have tried to pitch in and help the new parents as much as we can. Though, since we are 2 hours away, we can't always be there when we're needed.  It breaks my heart when Sara, with total seriousness, asks if I will move in with them so I can help more. She knows, and I know, that because I still work and have my own obligations, I can't.

It has taken the four of us, and others, to soothe, calm, feed, nurture and love this little boy whose screaming seemed to have no beginning and no end.  We rely on each other. Sometimes there is nothing to do but cry together.  Other times, we laugh in our weariness and give thanks that we are still remarkably sane and semi-functional.

The feedings are getting better, with the help of medications.  So far, the image of the peaceful, sleeping baby in his crib is only a hopeful fantasy.  But, eventually, he will sleep in his room, and his mother will begin to adjust to the new "normal" and imperfect life that is theirs.

God gives us each our own personal village for comfort and strength. He knows when one of us is close to giving up, another is there to hold her hand, to dry her tears, to embrace her in silence and strength, until she is able to take a breath of love and hope into her soul, exhale slowly, and take one more step forward.

LEANING. TOGETHER. WITH LOVE.

Be love and be blessed,