Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I am alive and getting better every day. I am so sad that I missed our Christmas Eve service and the Sunday after Christmas. It left a hole in my Christmas. For the entire Advent Season we talked about coming home. I missed my parents home the most during Christmas. I missed our Christmas Eve traditions, I missed opening gifts at their house Christmas morning, our Christmas morning breakfast, and time spent with them. They did come to our house Christmas night for dinner, but I was not great company and stayed far away so I did not share my yuckiness. My dad actually sent me to bed. It was like old times. As I reread our Advent messages, I came to realize that home IS peace, joy, hope and love. Home is all of the things brought to us at Christmastime through a baby, born in a manger. Our home is simply IN Him. Wow!
Lee and I have planned to go away for our anniversary this week. We are leaving today and coming back Sunday. I am looking forward to time with him where he can focus on resting, relaxing, and me. It has been a rough year. We have experienced a great deal of loss as have many of you. But because of the Christ child, our loved ones who were believers, have gone home. Home, where they have eternal peace. Eternal hope. Eternal joy. Eternal love. Home where every morning is Christmas morning.
I will miss you Sunday. I do need to warn you. I did not sing all the Christmas songs the ensemble has, and we will be singing them into the new year. I love each and every one of you.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. That whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Shine, Shine, Shine!
Tina