It looks like Christmas outside. And I'm not gonna lie...I like it. I love the snow. It's gorgeous. The clean, fresh, pure blanket that gradually and gently covers the otherwise not so pretty looking landscape of the winter season...it's nice. The irony that such delicate and beautiful drifts have been formed by the harsh winds that take advantage of the vulnerable open spaces...it's poetic to a snow lover like myself. It's another reminder that some of the most beautiful things are formed out of some of the most furious elements. As my devotional read this morning: "The beauties of nature come after the storm. The rugged beauty of the mountain is born in the storm, and the heroes of life are the storm-swept and battle-scarred." Isn't that good? Isn't that God? If you stick with Him through all the storm and battles, well, I promise you that at the right time you will start to see the beauty...the heroism...the stunning drifts that glisten as the ever-so-welcome sunshine hits them just right.
Believe it or not, the above paragraph was not really the intent of me tapping away on my keyboard this morning. I just figured since I had a leisurely day today, and it looked Christmas-y out, that perhaps I should interrupt the most recent lull in my writing and dive into the updating about our Christmas.
It's the most simple update ever. One word. And it's not a recap or conclusion or finale. It's a continuation. A springboard. A beautiful pattern. An overly simplistic summary.
Emmanuel.
God with us.
And it's not the first time you've read those words here. I realize that. But it's all I've got.
Christmas festivities with the family were fantastic. I love my family. I love the way we can laugh together and cry together. We can talk about ridiculously insignificant things and we can sink our teeth into things that require much coffee and chocolate to discuss properly. We can mock each other for doing things such as dumping the entire contents of a toiletry bag into a toilet...unflushed...not that I would do that (sigh). We can encourage each other, despite all of our flaws, and know that we are in the presence of people that love us. It's a good thing. Very, very good.
Grandma spent some time in the hospital, but is doing well now. I dominated Skee Ball at Chuck E. Cheese thanks to my aunt and uncle and their insistence that we go hang out there. We ate a lot. Stayed up too late a lot. Had too many movie nights to count. Played games. Spent lots of time being blown away by God's goodness to us. And wore our pajamas...a LOT.
Christmas morning was an incredible time together. The kids' pre-present prayers were breath-taking. Their perspective was convicting. And I won't even tell you how many times I cried. Nor will I post the pictures that my daughter captured of me crying. It's just better for all of us that way (who knew I looked like that when I cry?!). I'm a blessed woman...thankful for all the wonderful moments and experiences and lessons that my kids are to thank for. No...the entire two weeks of 24/7 in each other's faces wasn't sheer delight. We obviously have our moments around here. But when I see a sister hug a brother, crying, because he chose to thank God for providing his medicine rather than focusing on getting to open Christmas gifts...well, that seems to trump all the less than perfect moments. Know what I mean?
God was with us. Every waking moment. Every moment we were slumbering. He knew the behind the scenes perspective of everything that was allowed to cross our paths. Every event. Every word. Every emotion. He knew the purpose behind all of it. And He knows the purpose behind all of the present day things, too.
He sees the places we have left open for Him to create. There is vulnerability and risk in those open fields...yet without it, there would never be opportunity for Him to whip the wind just right as the snowflakes make their way to earth, leaving a sparkly and uniquely designed thing of beauty. To do that in our lives, it is clear that He really is with us. For us. In us. And as much as the word Emmanuel makes of think of Christmas, I think it's a rather appropriate word to use all year long.
And there you have it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment