15 results for tag: Hope for the Holidays

What Child is This?

One of my favorite Christmas songs is What Child Is This? This haunting melody draw me in to reflect on the lowly humanity of Christ and then worship Him as Savior. Come reflect with me for a moment on the humanity of Christ and the world into which He was born. It is in this lowly humanness that we can find deep comfort and hope during a holiday season made more painful by the loss of a child. “What Child is this who, laid to rest On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? Who is this who lives with the lowly, Sharing their sorrows, knowing their hunger? This is Christ, ...

Motivated By Love

I was eight and a half months pregnant that first Christmas in my grief. Just four months before, we had received a diagnosis for our unborn son that left us knowing that, barring a miracle from God, we’d be saying goodbye to him way sooner than we ever imagined. There was something so significant that year about being pregnant at Christmastime. I had low energy, both physically and emotionally, and so in some ways Christmas became a little bit simpler. But, honestly, it became a little bit more meaningful too. I would go about my days, obviously with child, and I would think about what we were about to celebrate: Christmas. The birth of Jesus. ...

Hope for the Hurting this Christmas

The people of Israel were waiting for the coming of the promised Messiah. They were living under the threat of the Assyrians, who would later bring the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity, when the prophet Isaiah delivered news of a child who would come to dissipate the darkness and redeem the world from sin. This birth announcement was a glimmer of hope in the midst of the fear and sorrow. “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 We live in the space between the ...

The Suffering Servant Has Come

As I approach Christmas, I can feel that there is—inherently—a sense of longing that swells this season, especially having lost my child on this earth. I have a biblical longing for all to be made right, for the gap between this world and the next to be gone, for the righteous King of all to return—not as a baby this time, but as the One coming on the clouds carrying all victory over sin and death. The reality that this world is missing what I most desire is all the more pronounced through my unique, acute, and raw awareness of how empty this life can feel. And yet—do you feel the rush of this season too? I don't mean the rush of mall vis...

New Year, Renewed Hope

There is no circumstance in life in which placing your hope in Christ is not relevant. There is no valley so low that His light cannot penetrate. Even in the dark night of grief we can choose to make much of the Lord. We can be resolved to lift Him high. Tomorrow we will wake to the start of a brand new year, and this reality is often accompanied by the idea of a fresh start. We make lists of the ways we’d like to grow or change and make plans to implement new habits, learn new skills, or embrace new experiences. Often, these resolutions are driven by a desire for self-improvement. But what if this year we allowed our resolutions to be rooted in a ...

A Hopeful Waiting

I have lived two Christmases in the shadow of loss. First we lost our son during birth on his due date at the end of October. With two healthy toddlers, I couldn’t just skip that holiday season. Then six years later, with three growing boys at home, we were surprised with another pregnancy and almost as quickly learned we would lose it. Our baby went to heaven during the end of September. My natural reaction would have been to hold my breath until the holiday season was over. What was there in joy and festivity for me? I was grieving—how could I hang lights, play music, or bake cookies? But each time there were little boys with expectant ...

The Fount of Every Blessing

Robert Robinson was born in Suffolk, England on September 27, 1735. His father died when he was only eight years. As soon as he was old enough, his mother sent him to London to apprentice under a barber. While there, he fell in with a rough crowd and lived a life of trouble. One day, his gang was planning on disrupting a gospel meeting of evangelist George Whitefield. But when he arrived, Robert was touched by Whitefield’s message so deeply that he could think of little else for weeks afterwards. Finally, on December 10, 1755, Robert gave his life to Christ. He began traveling all throughout England in order to listen to some of the best preachers ...

Cling to the Cross

Death has shaken your soul to its core. Mine too. When I first heard the words, “I’m sorry, there’s no heartbeat,” it seemed like my life was being siphoned out of me. I strained to take in each new breath of air, and as I looked up at the monitor, staring at the stillness of my baby, I felt as though I was watching someone else’s nightmare unfold before my eyes.  In that moment, death seemed to consume me. The death of your child is an excruciating heartache that alters the course of your life.  There may be times when it seems as though you are being crushed and overcome by the weight of death. Perhaps you feel as if you will never ...

Hope for the Holidays {All Things New}

As Christmas celebrations begin to come to a close, we find ourselves in anticipation of a brand new year.  In many ways, the new year feels like an opportunity for a fresh start.  We resolve to read more, work out more, be more organized, more patient, more loving…   But inside many of us long for the new year to bring something more meaningful than better eating habits and more trips to the gym.      We long for the shattered pieces of our hearts to be brought back together.  We long for the undoing of all the pain and sorrow of this world. We long for the the day when HE will come and wipe every tear from our eyes and make all things ...

Hope for the Holidays {Hope Came Down}

How can I feel joy when I'm just so sad?  How can I enjoy Christmas when my baby was suppose to be here?  How do I go on when my heart is broken?  I hear you, sweet mommas, and I understand. On December 21st, my daughter will turn 6. There will be no trip to the American Doll store. We won't go get her first pedicure. She won't unwrap any presents. We've never done any of those things because Kinley has celebrated every birthday in heaven. So, I will do what I do every year--I will make pink cupcakes. I will sing happy birthday. And I will miss my sweet girl. Then 4 days later, we will celebrate Christmas, and her stocking will hang empty, ...