Hard -- Soft

         

         "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle
 at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Jesus, in Matthew 11:29)

      Let's face it: according to the world's standards, it's usually more acceptable to be tough than tender, strong than weak, hard than soft. Movies about superheroes, commercials about winners, songs about the strong surviving all encourage us to strive for strength or toughness.

      It occurs to me that all my efforts all my life to "toughen up" have been futile. How much time and energy have I wasted trying to be something I'm not? For I am, to be perfectly honest, a fragile, tender soul looking around at others whom I perceive to be so much stronger than I, but truth be told are probably more like me than not. Admit it: I bet most of you, like me, are your own worst critic! If I see the world as unfriendly and prickly, then who am I to say others do not feel the same way?  I have a friend who says, "Let me do nice things for you as much as I want; just don't be nice to me!" Why? Because she's afraid of "coming apart" and finds it extremely difficult to accept kindness from others. 

      Why are we SO hard on ourselves? Maybe Heaven will be the ultimate "soft place to fall" where we all just cuddle up to our gentle Savior and "rest." This Christmas was another extraordinary lesson in grace (See October 4 entry "Coincidence -- God's Incidence"). God seems to be speaking to me about receiving tenderness, not just giving it. 

    
    Pictured above are four Christmas presents I received this year from special people in my life who are truly "gifted gifters"-- you know what I mean-- people who just seem to choose gifts exactly suited to who you really are. A, who is hot-natured, is very conscious of my cold nature, especially when I visit her house. She chose for me the softest, cuddliest sweater to keep me warm through the winter months, indoors or out, or even in her house! K picked a robe of fabric as soft as a whisper and covered with hearts, "to remind you that you are wrapped in love," she said. And daughter Lisa, whom I've always dubbed World's Best Gifter, sent pajamas and a lap blanket as velvety as a cloud, both of which have been swaddling me since Christmas morning! 

      I'm cherishing these gifts as another clear reminder from God that it's okay to accept "charity"-- that is, LOVE-- when it is so freely given. After all, isn't that what Christmas IS? It's also perfectly okay to be "soft," especially since that's the way God made us!  As He promised, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV) 

       My friend J closes her emails with "Gentle hugs," demonstrating understanding that always makes me smile. And so, dear reader, whoever you are, wherever you are, I pray you'll accept from me this Christmas some "Gentle hugs" yourself, because who doesn't need that gift! 💕
      

Darkness -- Light

         Sometimes this mysterious illness puts me in a very dark place. During an extended period of pain, a couple of weeks ago "Dr. P" reminded me, "Whenever you're feeling bad, just remember there are better days coming." Well, today is that day, and I am rejoicing in the ability to move freely around the house, think somewhat clearly, and accomplish a few long-neglected chores, including this blog! How many songs have expressed the same sentiment? In the folksy sixties the Mamas and the Papas crooned, "The darkest hour is just before dawn." Bob Marley wailed, "Every little thing is gonna be all right." Noah saw the rainbow of promise. The circlet around my neck given by my dear "sister" Linda, worn every day for the past 2 years, reminds me, "This, too, shall pass away." 

         But isn't that what Advent is all about? Isaiah promised, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine." (Isaiah 9:2 NLT) The children of Israel waited some 800 years after that for their Messiah, the Light of the World, God's Son, to make His appearance: that's a VERY long time to hold on to hope!

       I've decided my byword for 2020 is going to be "Hope," and isn't that what Christmas is all about? Hope came at Christ's birth (even though admittedly he was more likely born in Spring or Fall than in December). Shouldn't every day be "Advent," awaiting His coming to gather His bride, the Church, to His throne in Heaven? And in that light, shouldn't we be anticipating Messiah's coming again every minute of every day?

      But what do we do in the meantime? How do we keep waiting and hoping? Look back at the Isaiah passage and you'll see it! Just like the moon reflecting the sun's light, we must shine with the Son's light! After all, He is the original light source; without Him, there is no light or life. John tells us, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it." (John 1:4-5 CSB) And in Matthew we are instructed, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16 CSB)

(Image: "Bogue Sound Moonrise" by Phil Stith)

      Ann Voskamp expresses it so beautifully in her Advent devotional The Greatest Gift:

            "Christmas whispers there is always hope. It doesn't matter how dark
            the dark is; a light can still dawn. It doesn't matter if the world whispers,
            'There's not a hint that help will come from elsewhere,' telling us that
            nothing will ever improve, get better, change. God favors the darkest 
            places so you can see His light the brightest."

      Just remember (I remind myself)-- 800 years! Meanwhile, SHINE! 

P.S. For you amaryllis-watchers, leaves have grown long, but no bloom-- maybe next year. There's always HOPE! 😉
      

Dead -- NOT!

      I know -- this amaryllis looks kind of pitiful right now. But you should have seen it two weeks ago: take away all the green, focus on that dried up bulb that isn't very appealing, and you'll have what I saw when I pulled it out of the closet. I truly almost threw it out, but decided it wouldn't hurt to give it some water and see what happened. Not more than three days had passed after the watering when I looked, amazed, and saw a tiny touch of green! So I kept watering. We'll see if a lovely bloom follows-- I promise I'll keep you posted!

      This morning I belatedly began my Advent reading of Ann Voskamp's The Greatest Gift. In the introduction she speaks of the root of Jesse (David's father)-- the family tree, if you will, of Jesus Christ. So why does my apparently dried-up bulb make me think of our Savior's lineage? Listen to the prophet Isaiah: "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of His roots.... And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a Banner to the people, for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious." (Isaiah 1, 10 NKJV) You see, at the time of Jesus' birth the Davidic line of kings had pretty much dissolved, and Israel was under Roman rule. Jews, however, still kept strict genealogical records, and Jesus' genealogy tracing back to David's is recorded in both Matthew and Luke. Matthew's account is believed to be through Joseph, his earthly "father," while Luke's is through Mary, his mother. This ancestry was necessary to fulfill numerous Old Testament prophecies:

      Isaiah prophesied, "For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.... He will reign on the throne of David...." (Isaiah 9:6, 7b CSB). Micah 5:2 (CSB) tells us, "Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times."  Prophecy even precludes Messiah being born after the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., since all Jewish genealogy records were lost at that time. And all the way back in Genesis 49:10 (NKJV) in Jacob's last words we read, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh [another word for "Messiah"] come." 

      As stunning as is Jesus' undeniable fulfillment of at least 44 very specific Old Testament prophecies, it takes my breath away to realize that the Bible assures me that I have been "grafted in" to this Holy Branch! I urge you to read all of Romans, Chapter 9, and rejoice with me especially over the truth of Verse 19: "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." (CSB) 

      Thank You, God, for the assurance that one day, though my body will shrivel and die, like my amaryllis there is a Life in me that will remain vibrant and grow ever more beautiful as I enter my eternal home with You! And all because You came in the form of that tiny baby to lie in a manger in the humble village of Bethlehem. 

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