Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas.  There is snow on the ground outside, I am sitting on my couch next to my wonderful Mr. Darcy, with our puppy close by.  We spent the holiday in our new house, celebrating the birth of Christ with just ourselves and Chihiro.  It has been such a peaceful, relaxing time.  Yesterday, I sang for three Christmas Eve services at church and then headed home with Mr. Darcy to make some dinner and prepare for the festivities today.  We stopped at the grocery store on our way home.  We don't have much money this year and this month has been particularly tight.  Still, we were able to buy a few things, enough for a simple Christmas Eve dinner and a modest Christmas feast.  We managed to finish filling our cart and get to the cash register before the store closed for the night.  We collected our bags and headed out into the cold holiday night.  Mr. Darcy put me in the car and then hurriedly loaded the bags in the car.  A fresh snow was falling, and as we drove home in the snow, our car full of holiday cheer, we both smiled at each other and took a moment to be thankful for all the many blessings we have - our life together, our health, our house, our puppy, family who loves us, good jobs, and the chance to live life freely.

Today we spent time talking with family, exchanging gifts, taking a walk, playing with our puppy, and just enjoying each other's company.  This evening we had fun preparing and sitting down to a simple, but wonderful holiday meal.  Again, we were overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude and awe over the many blessings we have experienced, not only in this past year, but in our lives.  It is true that we have endured much and there is much in my life that is dark and sorrowful.  But...there are also so many blessings, so many miracles, so much healing and happiness.

As I rode home last night, a Scripture came to my mind - "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13.  Many times I have pondered what that Scripture meant.  Last night, it made sense to me.  So many times, we wonder if what we believe is really true, we wonder if there is good in the world, we wonder if there will ever be anything but pain and sorrow, and then we wonder if the good we see is not truly good but only a figment of our imaginations.  There are so many promises that God has given us to give us hope that the evil and pain and hurt we see in this world are not all there is; there is peace and joy and good.  Yet, God does not only give us promises to help and sustain us; He gives us real, tangible examples of His goodness.  This is what David was talking about.  He would have despaired and lost hope if he did not believe that he would see the goodness of God exemplified in those of us living.  And what better example of the goodness of God than the arrival of His son in human form; sent so that He may one day give His life for us, to redeem us from this fallen, broken world.  The goodness of God became flesh and dwelt among us, and we still behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  That glory shines in our lives and brings us hope, brings us joy and peace, and showers us with blessings.  Therefore, my heart does not despair.  I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, and I suspect this won't be the last time I do.  I have something to be thankful for and it makes my heart happy.  My wish for you this holiday season is that you too may see the goodness of the Lord in your lives and that it may fill your heart with gladness and gratitude.

Merry Christmas!