Tomorrow we celebrate Christmas. The miracle of a virgin giving birth to the Son of God, sent to save the world from death and to reunite the Spirit of God with Man on earth. Tomorrow is a day set aside that we celebrate eternal hope found in a newborn baby.
This post is a hard one and a joyous one for me to write. The season of healing has come, but our hearts still sting with the pain of loss. Just like the Hope that we cling to in Christ while living with losses we endure in this fallen and broken world. Today I’m honored to be sharing the story of one of my dearest friends. Anna and I have been as close as sisters for the past two and a half years. My heart broke with her when she lost her first son, Camden, on July 23, 2015 at the moment of his birth for unknown causes. The past year and a half has been a long season of grieving for Anna, her husband Matt, and everyone who loves them and feels Camden’s loss. Praise God, a new and joyful season has begun with the safe arrival of their son Logan Everett!
Something I’ve become much more keenly aware of since I became a mother four years ago was how painful Christmas can be. I have dear friends and family grieving the loss of children, aching with the pain of infertility, or missing a loved one at the dinner table. None of us are untouched by grief in some way or another. But that’s exactly why Christmas is so important. Christmas – the birth of the savior babe – means Hope for us all. Hope that healing is possible for broken hearts in this lifetime. Hope that He is working all things for good, even the darkest most painful things. Hope that we will see our loved ones again in Heaven and once again share a meal together around a table. Hope that God Himself is working to restore ALL THINGS to the way He intended for them to be for this earth. Hope found in a newborn baby.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
– Luke 2:8-20
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