It happened every year at this time when our kids were still living at home. We’d pull our fake tree from its box, assemble it branch by branch, and prop it in its stand. Next, we’d untangle several strands of teeny colored lights and plug them into a nearby socket. That’s when the fun began…. [ read more ]
Posts Tagged: Christmas
Encouragement for When You Feel Overwhelmed
I’m hearing the word “overwhelmed” a lot these days. It seems people are feeling this way over so many things: Fractured relationships over the vaccine issue News about Omicron and resulting uncertainties and restrictions Paying the bills Facing the first Christmas after losing a loved one The dread of spending Christmas with testy family… [ read more ]
Jonah and the Pandemic
What will Christmas look like for you? We had plans to celebrate Christmas this weekend with our son and our youngest daughter and their families, but pandemic restrictions changed everything. We’ve canceled those plans and will be home alone until the restrictions lift. I suspect that most of you are in the same… [ read more ]
Finding Peace
“These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (). Yesterday a news broadcaster reviewed the past year’s many tragic headlines from North America and beyond. They told of floods and fires, plane crashes, the opioid crisis, mass shootings, genocide, displaced people, and war. The… [ read more ]
Encouragement for When Christmas is Difficult
“These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (). Christmas is a time for celebration, but it can also be really tough when life brings change. Perhaps you’ve lost a loved one and you’re keenly feeling the pain of the empty place. Maybe you moved far from… [ read more ]
4 Meditations on the Names of Jesus – Week 1
The Christmas season is upon us full bore. Even the international airlines featured Hallmark-type Christmas movies on our flight from England to the USA yesterday. I’ll admit it—I enjoy wrapping myself in a warm blanket and watching these movies for fun on cold winter nights as Christmas approaches. I also enjoy wrapping gifts, baking… [ read more ]
Worship with a Kiss
I know, I know…Christmas proper has come and gone. Still, it’s nice to linger a little longer. Why rush the season away, right? I recently read the lyrics from a carol titled, “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But… [ read more ]
Exhale Stress, Inhale Peace
I haven’t written a blog for a couple of weeks, and for good reason: My daughter-in-law delivered a wee baby boy on December 6th—a month early. Baby’s lungs were underdeveloped, and as a result, he was immediately placed in the NICU. Our son phoned us with the news early that morning and said, “We… [ read more ]
Finding Hope in “Immanuel—God is With Us”
Can you believe we’re already in December? It feels like this year’s raced past at breakneck speed. Christmas is only a blink away! Our family keeps Christmas pretty simple, and I’m grateful. Doing so gives me the mental space to focus on Jesus as the real reason for celebrating this season. One of… [ read more ]
Purging, Purchasing, and Perspective
I spent last week at my mom’s home. She’s 86 now and still living independently, but she’s beginning to think about her options for the future. No matter what she decides, she feels compelled to purge earthly belongings. Together we sorted old dishes, linens, hand crocheted doilies, lamps, you-name-it. We boxed and bagged… [ read more ]
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