I love Christmas...
Emily's Stocking
Under the tree :)
Friday, 21 December 2012
Thursday, 20 December 2012
We did it! My heart is full of joy and peace right now! Thank you Jesus for showing us a way to remember Emily, and bless someone who needs to know You. If you are reading this and are a little confused read this post and then come back here.
After explaining to the kids and praying with them, we ended up choosing a little girl from India. Her birthday is just a day after and a year before Emily's. And, we didn't notice until later, but the little girl's name is very similar to 'angel'. How fitting.
And, sweet sweet Rachel, she was so excited. She was looking forward to being a big sister to another girl and taking care of her and playing with her...Rachel thought we were adopting this sweet child. Oh, how Joel and I yearned that this was true. We tried to explain and I think she understands now. Maybe someday we'll adopt, but God has not opened that door yet. Until then, we'll all have to be content sending letters and stickers and colorings to our angel in India.
After explaining to the kids and praying with them, we ended up choosing a little girl from India. Her birthday is just a day after and a year before Emily's. And, we didn't notice until later, but the little girl's name is very similar to 'angel'. How fitting.
And, sweet sweet Rachel, she was so excited. She was looking forward to being a big sister to another girl and taking care of her and playing with her...Rachel thought we were adopting this sweet child. Oh, how Joel and I yearned that this was true. We tried to explain and I think she understands now. Maybe someday we'll adopt, but God has not opened that door yet. Until then, we'll all have to be content sending letters and stickers and colorings to our angel in India.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Another Milestone
I've been wanting to buy Emily a Christmas gift this year. I haven't actually succeeded doing this before. I've wanted to, but never knew what to get. Then Christmas would come and go... I did manage to find a stocking for her. We had it in the ornament box, this little red, white and green stocking. We hung it up on her would-be first Christmas. And we've hung it up every year since then. One of those years, I found time to embroider her name with gold ribbon and sew a cloth butterfly onto her stocking. This year, instead of either on the tree or off somewhere by itself, it's hanging up between Rachel and Madelynn's stockings. Where it should be. Because she's a part of our family. She's just not here right now.
But what do I give my daughter who has everything?
I've been reading a book. It's a Gospel for Asia book, titled "No Longer a Slumdog". I've been reminded and touched by this book. It's full of personal stories of children who have lived in the slums of India and Southern Asia. Full of reality, but also hope.
Last night, the Lord led me through a thought process:
What should I get Emily for Christmas? I've been thinking of getting her a windchime or a suncatcher with a butterfly somewhere attached. It would have to be perfect, not too fancy, just simple. It would need to have pink, yellow, purple and maybe some white included. But I haven't found it yet. Because Emily doesn't want a windchime for Christmas. She wants me to do something eternal. To give her a gift that has eternity in it's heart.
I think back to the book I've been reading. These children have nothing. No clothes, no warmth, no hope and no love. And that is when God gave me the idea: Sponsor one of these lost children, in memory of Emily Grace.
So, hopefully tonight, soon at least, Joel and I and the kids will sit down together and "give" our gift to Emily. And bring eternity to a lost child.
My desire to "buy" something for Emily has "mysteriously" vanished. I am so excited to unwrap our idea of giving our money and love to a child who so desperately needs it.
I know this is what Emily would want. This is what would make her happy.
Because ultimately, giving our resources to another, instead of ourselves, is what Jesus wants and makes Him happy.
But what do I give my daughter who has everything?
I've been reading a book. It's a Gospel for Asia book, titled "No Longer a Slumdog". I've been reminded and touched by this book. It's full of personal stories of children who have lived in the slums of India and Southern Asia. Full of reality, but also hope.
Last night, the Lord led me through a thought process:
What should I get Emily for Christmas? I've been thinking of getting her a windchime or a suncatcher with a butterfly somewhere attached. It would have to be perfect, not too fancy, just simple. It would need to have pink, yellow, purple and maybe some white included. But I haven't found it yet. Because Emily doesn't want a windchime for Christmas. She wants me to do something eternal. To give her a gift that has eternity in it's heart.
I think back to the book I've been reading. These children have nothing. No clothes, no warmth, no hope and no love. And that is when God gave me the idea: Sponsor one of these lost children, in memory of Emily Grace.
So, hopefully tonight, soon at least, Joel and I and the kids will sit down together and "give" our gift to Emily. And bring eternity to a lost child.
My desire to "buy" something for Emily has "mysteriously" vanished. I am so excited to unwrap our idea of giving our money and love to a child who so desperately needs it.
I know this is what Emily would want. This is what would make her happy.
Because ultimately, giving our resources to another, instead of ourselves, is what Jesus wants and makes Him happy.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Sorrow and Christmas
This post is coming from the context of the violence, the suffering, the grief, the horror, the evil that happens in this world.
And more specifically, thinking of the families in Newtown, Connecticut.
Where is Peace on Earth?
This morning at church we sang this song, and it greatly comforted my soul and I also grieve the loss of my daughter who is in glory with those 20 children.
And more specifically, thinking of the families in Newtown, Connecticut.
Where is Peace on Earth?
This morning at church we sang this song, and it greatly comforted my soul and I also grieve the loss of my daughter who is in glory with those 20 children.
"I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day"
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Only in Jesus can we have hope. This world is full of death and hate and awfulness because of sin. And all of us are full of sin. Except for Jesus. And Jesus took all that sin and made a way for any of us to come to God and be forgiven and spend eternity with Him. And because of Jesus we can have hope. Because of Him, we can trust that this horrible world will come to an end, and God, the King of Life and Love will reign supreme.
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