In a time when there is much grief and uncertainty, we could all use a message of hope and a blessing of Christmas.
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! |May his blessings be upon you, his peace in your mind, and his love in your actions.
Here it is CHRISTMAS 2006. – A year of hopes and fears, of laughter and tears, of hellos and goodbyes. BUT THE FINAL WORDS ARE THE WORDS OF ADVENT. “UNTO YOU A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO YOU A SON IS GIVEN.” At his name we celebrate Christmas and lift up our heads in hope.
Some days of this year gave us good memories: There was FEBRUARY 20th when “Christmas-choo-choo-Engineer Patrick” got a baby sister named her “Grace Elizabeth.” Then on APRIL 20 Arlo got a baby sister, “Samaya Guadalupe.” It was about time some one of these young’uns got a Guadalupe.
Jean and I had a big celebration on JULY 26th. It was our 60th Wedding anniversary. This sent us off on a three-day honeymoon trip to a Bavarian Alpine Village (located in Helen, Georgia) and gave us special memories to carry along with a big “THANK YOU GOD” FOR SIXTY YEARS, ABUNDANT YEARS, GREAT YEARS.
Then came a big personal change. It started on AUGUST 18 when a car roared out of a side road, like a shark dashing into a school of fish. Our car was the fish. We were knocked into another lane and hit again. Jean was taken by helicopter to the Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. The jaws of life ripped my car door off, and I ended up in the same hospital.
Jean died 3 days later. I won’t even put that date down. The children and most of the grandchildren, even those now in China, were beside her those three days. I wanted to die with her, but the children and doctors wouldn’t let me.
People said that family put on a great memorial service decorated with a score or more of the baby quilts, graduation quilts, and anniversary quits that Grandma had made for them. I got out of the hospital on OCTOBER 13th – a good day. I learned how great it is to have a family and to have a church – not just one, but there were at least four directly involved. What a grand tribute to the bride that of 60 years.
We had Thanksgiving in South Georgia in a daughter’s remodeled house and saw 97-year-old Aunt Evelyn on the way home. Now I am to prepare for a book signing December 21.
In this all I say “Thanks, Lord, for being with us.” Even things we did not like were lighted by the grace and love of God – where they become the Church Advent Candles coming to life.
There are hopes and fears. Faith, hope, and love abide – and the greatest is love. Share it with one another. The greatest news we have is “UNTO YOU A CHILD IS BORN – UNTO YOU A SON IS GIVEN.
That’s our blessing of Christmas.