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Party
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:42-45
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb: Jesus. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
This is the last weekend before Christmas, the fourth week of Advent, the day before the winter solstice slams down on us with the longest darkness of the year. Time for a party!
Mary and Elizabeth thought so. Their babies were jumping with joy, and they had never felt closer to God. The Bible has very special things to say about their very special babies. But every baby has its own precious way about him or her. Have you held a baby lately?
At the Sandel Christmas party last night our oldest elder, my mother, was 93 ½ and our youngest, Chloe, will be three months old next week. Four living generations, not terribly far from becoming five, celebrated with oyster stew and white elephant gifts and Christmas carols.
Grace, nearly a teenager and her brother Noah, not quite yet, read the Christmas story together. Almost everyone had a turn caring for Chloe, holding her warm and soft and precious in their arms.
Chloe reminded Margaret of our baby Chris, now 35 and father of two. Chloe and Chris both grabbed at her clothes and her skin with their tiny hands. Wanted something substantial to touch and hold. Chloe slept in Margaret’s arms.
Noah, whose gift was a pretty cool baseball pitching machine, sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with his cousin – more than once, more than twice. They sang well. And there was joy in Mudville. The baby breathed soft and warm, held close for a moment by every mother in the room. Christmas is coming. Joy to the world. Mary, Elizabeth, and the rest of us rejoice.
How does this happen to us, Lord? Bless us as we believe what you have spoken, as we believe what you have done. And as we hold each other tender, soft, teach us your way of love.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1416
