For many years now I have listened to this Christmas song with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.   Later on, I heard that it was written in response to one of the author's moving through the Christmas holidays after the loss of a parent.  I get that.  The first Christmas after the loss of anyone can be tough.

But,even before I knew the background story, I had a vision of this song being about Mary, the mother of Jesus;  her first Christmas after the death and resurrection of her Son must have been an emotional war ground. Joy, pain, grief, anger; the stages of grief wrapped up into one big package of confusion.

But, the reason I adore Mary is because of her example of grace and understanding.  It would be like her to find the joy in a day that most modern day mothers would find only sadness.

I've had a vision for a long time, that of shooting a video that would express the pictures in my head every time I hear the song.  It's probably not going to happen, so I pulled together these graphics to tell the story.

In the graphics are some theological tidbits that jump out - tidbits, that weren't planned.  However you understand this, see it through the eye of a mother rejoicing the first world-wide celebration of the birth of her son.  We don't really know if there was one, but even if it started only in her heart, the celebration is still happening and the story of the birth is the first chapter to the greatest story ever told.

Shepherds stood watching,
    keeping their sheep,
And suddenly angels appeared. 
"Don't be afraid, we bring you
     Good News,
Your Savior is born this night..."

Matthew 2 (NIV)
The Magi Visit the Messiah2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Luke 2:12 King James Version (KJV)

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

One Christmas, about 29 years ago,my daughter,  Meagan, who was 3, was sitting in her carseat on the way home singing at the top of her lungs:

"The Little Lord Jesus,
Had a bagel on His finger,
And it spanned round and round
And it flew off.

She sang this to the tune of "Away In The Manger."

I giggled to myself and then asked her where she heard that song.

She said it was a song about her book.  When we got home, I had her get the book for me.

It's a bit hard to see but if you look closely enough you'll see Jesus' hand is touching his halo.  To a little three year old who probably spanned her bagel on her own finger, it might appear that this is what Jesus is doing.

And since Jesus was Jewish ...well, you fill in the blank!

The birth of Jesus seems a fairytale to some and beyond our human grasp of understanding.  The idea that a young 14 year old girl could have enough faith to trust an Angel's announcement of her impending pregnancy and to risk her own life to go along with it is amazing .  Of course, it was her choice -- she had to say yes and that says even more about her trust in God.  But her knowledge of the scriptures helped her make that decision

As deep as her faith was, though, it was her understanding of scripture and words of the prophet Isaiah, that must have helped clinch the deal.  God had foretold the coming of the Messiah through the prophet Isaiah over 680 years before Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel.  Yes, Mary knew the scriptures well.

We are a people wandering in the desert.  We are a people addicted to news and the "news' today, at least television broadcast news, makes its revenue from reporting the worst.  When there is nothing fantastically wrong going on in the world, reporters will stand outside with panic in their voices reporting something that is"almost bad" making the crowd almost cheer-on the event in hopes it WILL turn bad. And, where is the good news?  At the end of an  exaggerated crisis reporting  half hour- maybe.

If we pay too much attention, and invest our emotinal energy in the leading news, we may tune out and miss the good news at the end of the broadcast -- the "feel good" news.

But everyday we have an opportunity to be a part of the Good News of the nativity.  The Promise.  The Love.  The Light of the World.
---
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light and the angels brought them good news.  
Good News, Good News, an Angel
brings Good News
Good News, Good News, leave you 
with Good News

Close your eyes, fold your hands
For a moment let your sorrow fade

Why? Oh why are you afraid?
Has this world stripped you of your Faith?

Close your eyes and on bended knee,
listen to an angel pray

And once again prepare the way,
So you'll see a gift that's given

For you, a time of joy
Behold, a baby boy

Bow your head, speak not a word
Let the silence take you far from here

The spirit of a child dry every tear
And may your doubts they disappear

Bow your head and on bended knee
Hear the story once again

The child grew up to wear a cross
The child grew up to pledge a life

For us, a time of joy
Behold, Christ a baby boy

Good News, Good News, an Angel
brings Good News
Good News, Good News, I bring you,
an Angel brings
Good News 
-------
Joy to the World! Turn off the bad news just for today.  Behold the Star.  Behold the Lamb.  Behold the joy that is yours.  Good News. Good News.

I happen to be married to one of the most patient men in the world.  It was actually a requirement when he applied to be my second husband and stepdad to my children.

Patience requires an interesting integration of many of the Advent photo-a-day words this month.  Many of those words are a part of John's nature.  (Peace, time, ready, wisdom, delight, holy, steadfast, hopeful, a heart for justice, gather, rejoice, strong, free, mercy.)  You see, John is centered in his faith and knows how much he is loved by God.  His faith is his motivator in life.  He is humble and lives rather simply in the complicated life I offer him.  I am a whirling dervish compared to him; creative by nature and probably more ADD than I ever realized.  He sees no value in "things" unless they serve a purpose.  Yet, he does not judge others for acquiring things.  That's a relief, because acquiring things has never been a problem for me.

He is at peace with who he is and is a peacemaker.  He is not confrontational, and will take a couple of licks from the tongues of others, before he even replies.  He has the patience to assess the words and does not take anything personally.  That makes him stronger than anyone who immediately lashes back.

John takes delight in life in general.  He loves his work.  He loves me.  But he takes particular delight in children.  He is a patient, loving and understanding father. And now, as a grandfather, he gets to do it all over again.  A father and stepfather of six, it would be hard for the kids to count on one hand how many time he raised is voice to them.  Many a time when he was really saddened by their behavior, he would often lower his voice in a tone that implied his sadness and speak the name of the offending child.  It would stop them cold.  That is because everyone knew just how kind and patient he is.  If he was disappointed in an action, the knowledge of that disappointment was better punishment than grounding.  No one wanted to hurt the person that showed the most grace.

John is a perfect example of a just person who shows mercy first.  The saying, justice without mercy is revenge, could be a tattoo on the arm of my beloved.  A win-win attitude is what he has.  He hears one side of a story, then patiently listens to a conflicting, opposite side, and always, always comes up with a third way to see things.  A master of compromise, he makes everyone feel like they've won.  It may take a few steps and a bit of his time, but that's called ... PATIENCE.

I am blessed to be walking beside him.  I love him and I believe in him.   He has taught me the importance of patience and discernment.  He has helped me see all sides of a story.  He has instilled in me the need for mercy and grace instead of judgement. He is my steadfast rock.  He understands my childlike hope.  He gets the importance of sacrificing time, money and self in order to travel to gather with family.  He is my joy.  

One of our favorite Bible verses was read at our wedding: Ecclesiastes 4:12 -If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the triple-braided cord is not soon broken. That third cord is our God.  Our wedding rings symbolize those three cords wrapped together.  We are bound together with our faith and where God is the light in our life, John is the conductor who waves the light in front of me to help show me the way and keep me from getting lost.


Love is patient and kind..... Yes he is...

There is something about a clear sunny day on the lake and a boat ride.  We are blessed to be able to leave the chores of the day, step onto a grubby old patio boat, untie ourselves from the shore and all the stresses of the moment.

Our bodies relax into the ride and our worries are left in the wake as we launch into our pool of refuge.

We start slowly, in a 5 mile per hour zone, so we merge into relaxation, rather then speed at a pace we'd rather leave behind.  As we move out into the open lake, it is only then we let loose and go like the wind.  Ahh, freedom.  We are free from the ties that bind.  The dock is out of sight and so are our obligations, if only for the duration of the ride.

And then we find a cove and anchor.  Sometimes we read. Sometimes we just sit and talk and watch the sun set. It is amazing how relaxation morphs into rejuvenation.

Taking time to relax is an escape from bondage.  Choosing to take time in the day to reflect and rest is choosing to let go of the ties that bind us.

As the responsibilities and obligations of the holiday season pile up, it is important for me to find my "patio boat" moment.  It's too cold to venture out on the water today, but it's nice and warm in my house and the view to the lake is a 24/7 option.  So, out comes my camera to capture my link to freedom.  Sitting in my chair, in the middle of each day, I escape to the water and watch the wonders of nature outside my door.  

It is in these moments - in releasing the pressures of the day, that I can open my heart and free my mind to the messages of Advent and the reason for the season.

Not everyone can look back on their year and respond so wholeheartedly to the word REJOICE!  Click on the word or my image to the left and you will be taken to my year in photos and posts. 

Living in the moment can be a helpful thing.  It keeps us from getting stuck in the past and prevents us from overlooking today in order to get to tomorrow.

I love the thought that a rear view mirror is helpful and even necessary, but don't look to long or you won't avoid the crash in front of you.  Living in today, though doesn't mean to forget the past.  It doesn't mean you shouldn't plan for the future.

FaceBook has become like a diary of sorts.  At the end of the year, before you open a clean shiny diary, it pays to skim through your year and glean from the top all the memories that will serve your future.  Look at how the negative things can be learned from and realize, this is just a chapter in your book of life.

I feel blessed with all that happened this year and am full of gratitude for all that is.

I Rejoice therefore in the wonder and balance of life.  For every heartbreak there is a gift in the pain to open the pathway to tomorrow.  Every hiccup can be an opportunity for growth and every success is God's gracious gift and reminder that life is worth rejoicing.