December 2007

"Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy."  -Luke 1:58

This has been a year of wonder and promises fulfilled. A husband restored, a little boy flourishing, a business blessed, and a baby anticipated. It has been a very full year.

Each Advent as I read the Christmas story, there is usually someone with whom I feel a certain kinship, someone whose experience of anticipation and nativity has connection to my own life in this season of Christmas. Elizabeth and Zechariah were given a promise - an impossible promise. In their old age - and her barrenness - they were going to have a child. Zechariah's doubt, even in the face of an angel herald, was "rewarded" with the gift of silence. What better way  to contemplate the promise of God?

Our gifts this year have seemed no less miraculous.

I have watched in wonder as my husband, damaged so badly in a car-bike collision just over a year ago, has healed, returned to work, gotten back on his bike, won races, scooped up his son, and looked down into my eyes and held me close.

We have watched Karsten turn two, learn to run and dance, experience camping for the first time, and make new friends. We have listened to him speak with his amazing vocabulary, heard him singing, recite his favorite books, and make up stories of his own.

I have been overwhelmed with interesting work and enjoyable clients, so much so that Karsten's naptime became office hours for much of this fall. Thank God for my job that allows me to multitask from home.

And we too have been given a child. We found out in October that Karsten will have a little sibling come summer. Her name is Annika Noel, which means "full of grace" and "song of Christ's birth", words which we claim in anticipation.

What must Zechariah have thought and felt as he watched his wife grow over those amazing nine months? How hard it must have been to be silent in his joy and amazement!

I wonder whether he penned any psalms of praise. He certainly sang one when his boy was born. And no only that, but his hymn was prophetic of the coming Messiah and role his son would play in our rescue.

So what does the future hold for Annika? For Karsten? For each of us? I know that God does not promise to prevent hardship; the last two years are evidence of that. But He has promised that He has "plans to give us hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).  We have seen God transform pain and fear and despair into endurance and hope and trust. We have lived in the center of God's mercy and know that He can and will see us through.

Gabriel's words hold true for us too: "Do no be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard." (Luke 1:13) He is listening. He is present. He is Immanuel, "God with us."

Merry Christmas.