The Christmas Story

Every Christmas Eve of my childhood as far back as I can remember, my dad would open the Word and read the Christmas story to us from that beloved old passage, Luke 2.

My mom always had candles everywhere - different, beautiful pieces (nativities, candelabras, sleighs, for example) - so the two main rooms were aglow with soft, flickering candlelight accented by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. The smell of cinnamon rolls rising in the kitchen wafted through the house. We would listen to Dad read Scripture with familiar, cherished cadence as we sat around him in a circle. Candlelight cocoa and cookies followed, fresh from the dozens we'd made with Mom to enjoy and to share with many people.

These Christmases will always be a treasured part of our beautiful childhood. I got to relive this with my children in 2014 when my parents stayed over Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. I'm so blessed that my children get to share this memory.

Yesterday, my dad read to us again. He had some difficulties, which broke our hearts. Still, even that could not take away the sweetness of what has been a lifetime of this man leading his family in God's Word. Yes, we've grown and changed - sometimes a lot. Even so, we still seek the Babe who came so very many years ago. <3 

<3

Thank you, Dad, for always reading the Christmas story. Thank you, for passing along sustaining faith. Thank you for being the strongest man I have ever met, in years past and still today. I love you forever. I love you for always. As long as I'm living, my Daddy you'll be. :')

Mama, I Wish You

Several recent birth traumas and injuries have caused my heart to be most heavy, most tender today. There is so much I wish for mothers in this crazy, unfair world of ours. 

Mama, I Wish You...

Mama, I see the tears trailing down your cheeks. 

I hear your sobs though I'm not nearby. 

Your heart cries out in pain without words,

and our hearts echo back in reply. 

I wish... I wish...

Mama, I wish you the arms of Jesus

wrapped tightly around your heart.
I wish His arms around your baby

while you two are far apart. 

I wish you had calm instead of terror;

 the fear of losing your precious baby boy.

I wish this nightmare you're living

could be somehow replaced with joy.

I wish that I could undo the moments

that lead to this frightening birth.

I wish yesterday had been the best of your life, 

instead of the scariest, and worst. 

Oh mama, how I wish I could express to you

the deepest sympathies of my heart. 

I wish that I could let you know that you are not alone

as you lay feeling empty, forgotten in the dark. 

Too many mamas have gone before you.

Too many of us know well this blackened road. 

You feel alone though surrounded with people

all wishing they could bear for you this load.

I wish you a healthier baby this minute, 

the next hour, day, and week. 

I wish you safe recovery to meet him in person, 

and plant mother's love kisses on his cheek. 

I wish health to his heart, mind, and body, 

and for his seizures to altogether cease.

I beg God for healing, in His Holy name

in my heart and on my knees. 

I wish you a mountain of mercies, 

new from the Lord each minute of every day.

I wish you His guidance, His goodness

every single step of the way. 

Lord, touch this mama and all others like her. 

Let your healing hand not from them roam.

Bring her and baby your healing, Oh God,

let these babies and mommies go home.