As we enter into this Christmas season, it is a heavy one. The burdens are great. Not only for what we are experiencing, but it seems like so many around Summer and I are hurting so deeply. I have never before experienced such pain during that which is supposed to be a "merry" time of year.
As you pray for us, please also pray for: A friend who is about to have a baby and also is, short of a miracle, going to be saying goodbye to her father at the same time; A neighbor who is bringing his wife diagnosed with Alzheimers home from the hospital today to live out her remaining days at home with hospice care; A friend who is in the midst of a terrible divorce; Another friend who is remembering his wife of many years who died last Christmas; A couple we know who are going through a very difficult time in their marriage; A friend struggling with an addiction; Another neighbor who just lost her husband to the war in Afghanistan; Many families that are struggling financially because of job lost; A sweet couple that have tried for years to get pregnant, only to result in several miscarriages.
Even in the midst of this, there is still a joy that goes beyond our temporary situations. The joy of Christmas will continue to permeate the hearts of men - not a joy that is based upon a season, because Christmases will come and go, some will be painful, others peaceful. No - the joy I am talking about is a joy solely based in an act of God upon the history of mankind through the incarnation of Christ. He is the hope of the world. It is "by His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53) This kind of joy is an eternal joy. And all things worthy of our attention last forever.
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