Remembering the story.....

I spent today with Susie and Gwen (and Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna).  As I was giving Lia a hug, I was thinking about this particular picture.  This is Gwen and I when she was just about the same age as Lia is right now.  And I remember that this picture was most likely the first picture that Doug ever took!  This was long before digital photos and you really were careful with those 24 pictures on a roll of film!  Honestly it just seems like yesterday in so many ways.  But, the years have passed....lots of years.  And here we are in this difficult year.  We spent the day mainly just chatting and watching some television with the kids.  Even that is difficult with all the commercials with children and families, babies and pregnant women.  It seems at every turn there is another reminder for our family that we are missing a very important member.  Yes, Lucas is missed.

This morning I was reading from The Passion Translation Luke and Acts.  I loved this version of the angels appearing to the shepherds....

"That night, in a field near Bethlehem. there were shepherds watching over their flocks.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! But the angel reassured them saying, "Don't be afraid for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone, everywhere!  For today, in Bethlehem, a rescuer was born for you.  He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah! You will recognize him by this miracle sign; you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and laying in a feeding trough."  Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven!  And they all praised God singing
"Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men"

Yes, there is that word....again.....hope.  And not just hope, but a GOOD HOPE.  Christmas is really about that hope.  Last Saturday night, at the Christmas concert at Gwen's church, we saw this really funny video...... The Truth about Christmas - funny.  This is worth a watch.  You see, in the midst of our very hard year and this time of struggle to just walk through this season, in missing Lucas so much, we need to laugh.  And we also need to focus on what is really important.  Please take a moment and watch this link.  And laugh with me.  And remember that the HOPE of Christmas - the truth of Christmas - Jesus is what is really important.    I will be watching this more than one time.  Today it feels good to laugh.

Jesus, thank you for time together with family and friends.  Thank you for speaking into our situations with your Word.  Holy Spirit, thank you for using new translations and videos and Facebook and blogs to touch us and to share the Good News of the birth of Jesus.  Thank you for your love and care and for your presence with us, especially in the hard times.   Thank you for GOOD HOPE!  Amen