Not that I minded the soft, "Merry Christmas, Aunt Linda," even at 6:30 a.m. The whole family congregated in the family room, where we opened our stockings. This was followed by the joyful ending of Jotham's Journey, with all five candles of the Advent wreath alight. Some have faulted the book for mixing a fictional tale with Bible truths, but—as with all good historical fiction—this story returns the shining wonder to events tarnished by distance and sanctimonious repetition.
After breakfast we exchanged gifts by the Christmas tree. Of course the boys eagerly sought out the gifts with their names on them, but it was encouraging to see them still more eager for others to open the gifts (many handmade) from them.
In the quiet of the afternoon, between games and books and Lego creations, we listened to a new CD, the American Boy Choir's Carol. Their rendition of Donald Fraser's This Christmastide (Jessye's Carol) transported me to a time in my life where I had caught a glimpse of heaven amid the sin-stained realities of this world. It was an experience of music, worship, and church body life that I now know was a rare and brief gift. The experience is gone, but the gift remains.Permalink | Comments
Category Everyday Life
The Season of Waiting is almost over. It is hard to observe Advent in our culture, where "Christmas" begins in October and ends about noon on December 25, just as the Christmas Season is beginning. But our small attempts have succeeded in shutting out some of the clamor, and drawing our eyes to greater wonders.
Billy, age five, is greatly excited. He hung his stocking from the mantel, and moved the large airplane cockpit control panel toy from in front of the fireplace, so that Santa will find no obstruction tonight. Then he solemnly declared to his cousin, "It wouldn't matter if Santa doesn't come, because the important thing about Christmas is Jesus' birth."
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Category Everyday Life
Although the researchers claim that the results probably apply more broadly, I believe that the population they studied greatly affected the results: all of the women had jobs outside the home. Thus their childrearing activities had to be fit into their "spare time," not a situation conducive to choosing the effort of working with children over a mindless collapse in front of the TV.
I'm grateful that I know many people for whom making a home and raising a family are among the highest pleasures of life. They are the hope of the world and the strength of the future.Permalink | Comments
Category Children & Family Issues Random Musings
