December

A month threaded through with quiet grace, encompassed by hope. Of remembering that we are a chosen people, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger. Of feasting and celebration, and allowing the Light of Life to well over and dispel the grief of the world, unmaking the foundations of our pain. He has come to free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s power and might. A month of finding beauty everywhere I looked, often in unforeseen places. Of spices and baking and golden music and treasured traditions, of walking quietly and looking expectantly. A month of celebration that left room to go hand in hand with heartache, even as we are reminded that sorrow has been slain by hope. The dark clouds of the world have to flee when faced with the baby of Bethlehem. A month that belongs, as all months do, to Jesus. We will worship the King of kings. He is both the Evensong by which we close out the year, and the dawning Daystar to which we raise our eyes in trembling hope. With You my heart will stay.

“The dawn is not distant, nor is the night starless; Love is eternal! God is still God, and His faith shall not fail us; Christ is eternal!” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow