Merry Christmas!

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2: 9-11

We are grateful today for the birth of Christ. We walk with a God that did not remain distant, but chose to become a man that we might see the face of God. But in this season of our lives, John and I give thanks that Jesus came not just as a sweet baby. He came to mend the most desperate and broken parts of humanity. He did not remain distant from our sin and suffering, but as Isaiah said, He was "acquainted with sorrows."

He grew up like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.

Isaiah 53:2-4

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.

Thank you, Lord for humbling yourself and coming as a child.

It is in this Jesus, that we place our hope and our lives.

When we arrived home at the end of a busy day, John took my hand and said, "We made it. I made it." I felt it was important for John to participate in as much of the Christmas festivities as possible. He wanted to, but wasn't sure how he would handle the pain and the commotion. He did great! We brought the stockings downstairs so he could take his time getting ready, but the kids didn't have to wait. Then he came upstairs for the reading of the Christmas story and family communion. We opened gifts and enjoyed one another. Then John took a nap and was ready to go to his sister Katherine's home for a big family dinner. We made it home before 9pm and he still had energy to pray Compline with his father.

Can you tell what I got for Christmas? A haircut and glasses!!

John told his cousin Jonathan, "It fills my heart with joy to see you playing with my children. That is what I wish I could do. Thank you."

Merry Christmas!

Frolicking cousins filled with joy... and sugar.