My sweet baby Thomas is getting ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ by kneeling at His feet for the second year in a row. I can only imagine the beautiful celebration that will take place. I envision a line similar to the one at Bass Pro where children and families are anxiously waiting to see Santa; only this line is much, much longer and much more beautiful. And, instead of children voicing what they want for Christmas, everyone is in awe of the King and waits patiently to give Him gifts of praise. It’s an awesome feeling to know my son will be in that line.
We’ve heard all our lives that, “This is the most wonderful time of the year!” Many would agree and many would disagree. This is the time of year when families and friends gather for parties, people spend hours shopping for the perfect gift, Christmas lights are hung and trees are put up, cards are mailed, and children wait eagerly to open their gifts on Christmas morning. It’s the time of year that can be very difficult for those who have lost loved ones. When I was pregnant with Thomas, I always pictured us decorating for Christmas together, baking cookies for Santa together, watching Christmas movies together, and the biggest thing I remember imagining is Thomas running down the stairs to wake Buddy and me so that he could see what Santa brought him. Sadly, this will never happen. While those things are fun and exciting, they are not the reason we celebrate Christmas; Jesus Christ is and I would never wish for Thomas to be here to experience those things when he is instead standing face to face with our Savior. It IS the most wonderful time of year, not because of all the material things, but because the One who gives me hope that I will see my son again was born.
We’ve heard all our lives that, “This is the most wonderful time of the year!” Many would agree and many would disagree. This is the time of year when families and friends gather for parties, people spend hours shopping for the perfect gift, Christmas lights are hung and trees are put up, cards are mailed, and children wait eagerly to open their gifts on Christmas morning. It’s the time of year that can be very difficult for those who have lost loved ones. When I was pregnant with Thomas, I always pictured us decorating for Christmas together, baking cookies for Santa together, watching Christmas movies together, and the biggest thing I remember imagining is Thomas running down the stairs to wake Buddy and me so that he could see what Santa brought him. Sadly, this will never happen. While those things are fun and exciting, they are not the reason we celebrate Christmas; Jesus Christ is and I would never wish for Thomas to be here to experience those things when he is instead standing face to face with our Savior. It IS the most wonderful time of year, not because of all the material things, but because the One who gives me hope that I will see my son again was born.
This time last year, it didn’t feel like the most wonderful time of year. Buddy and I had just lost our six-and-a-half month old son, Thomas. We actually got away for a couple of weeks during the holidays. It was our first time to be away from our families on Christmas. As much as I missed them while we were traveling, I feared returning home, facing reality without my son. As I sat in the airport waiting to board our flight, heartbroken with tears running down my face, I never imagined how different Christmas would look this year. I never imagined we would be holding a baby girl in our arms on Christmas morning as we celebrate Christ’s birth. God is good and His timing and plans are perfect. He has provided us with a great deal of healing over the past year. Alexandria brings us so much joy. While the holidays this year have been difficult because we miss Thomas very much, they have also been fun celebrating Alexandria’s first Christmas. We can’t wait to read the Christmas story to her on Christmas Eve and tell her all about the One who gives salvation and has made a way for her to meet her big brother. We have already started new traditions… we weren’t going to decorate for Christmas this year, and about two weeks ago, we changed our minds. We decided to put up our tree. While decorating our tree, we baked cookies, danced with Alexandria to Christmas music, and cried and smiled together as we talked about Thomas. He is the angel at the top of our tree.
There will be years that Christmas doesn’t feel like the most wonderful time of year. That may be this year for you. This holiday season, even in the midst of being without a loved one or whatever struggle you may be dealing with, I pray you’re able to experience joy as you celebrate Christ’s birth.
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:30-38
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:30-38