Merry Christmas

SJ has been a little whiny the last few days. Mrs. T said she was cutting her 18 month molars. You know "velcro baby", having fits, stuff like that. Well, this morning (Christmas Eve) she is all smiles and sweetness. My Mama said "of course, all children are good on Christmas Eve." :-)

We can't wait until tomorrow. We have been waiting since May to have Christmas with our daughter! We do wish that our relatives lived near us so we could all be together. We will be thinking of them tomorrow as their sons and daughters are all grown up and having Christmas at their own homes.
While the gifts will be fun and seeing the light in your child's eye is touching, we are aware that Santa Stuff tugs a child's heart from the Reason for the season. It is our prayer that we will be able to minister to SJ's heart that as a child longs all year for Santa to come bringing good things, so too Israel waited for the Messiah to come. Through the Advent season we hope to teach her that He has come, just as the bible said He would, and that we are to wait eagerly for His return. We can't wait until next year when SJ will understand more and we can begin to teach her that even when we are not good Christ loves us, and yet, God rewards those who obey (in a child's language, those who are good or do right clearly none of us are righteous though). My heart is just bursting!!! You parents out there must know what I mean!! How wonderful is it to share the Gospel with your own child? I have held out this Truth to so many children, but to speak it into Sophie's life overwhelms my heart. What a privilege!
I pray that you and your children will know in your hearts this Christmas that Jesus is Emmanuel our God with us.