A Family Christmas

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” . . . wasn’t exactly the Christmas we had. We were burning pallet wood in our wood stove to heat the house, and we decorated, so that everything would be pretty and cozy and would feel like Christmas when our daughter's family arrived.

We first saw the new baby—our grandson—through the windows at the airport. Anxious to hold him and just look at him, we waited for them to clear customs control. What joy! Our daughter, her husband, and two little grandsons—one we’d never met. They all looked beautiful, through eyes of love.

There’s nothing like having family for Christmas! Nothing in the world! The whole house becomes happy.

There’s also nothing like babies for Christmas. Their sweet little faces and total dependence remind us of the Christ Child, Who became a Baby in order to identify with us. The mystery of the incarnation becomes even more poignant when I look into the face of my newest grandbaby and imagine what Mary must have felt, knowing that the innocent countenance was her Messiah.

We’ve traveled already—two little ones in tow—and seen and photographed and oohed and aahed. We are drinking in each moment, making pictures of these precious people in our hearts for later, when things get back to normal and our house becomes way too quiet again.

Life is good.

There’s nothing more precious than family and being together at Christmas. We are so fortunate. (We’ve spent some Christmases alone, just the two of us. Being overseas from our children, it’s not easy to be together and all the more special when it happens.)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift,

Jesus Christ, our Savior.

(2 Corinthians 9:15)

And, we thank God for our children, their mates, and their sweet children.

Trusting you, too, rejoiced in the Lord this Christmas. May God bless you!