It's almost Christmas...and I can't sleep

It's almost Christmas. 48 hours away. I can't sleep.  I'm pretty sure it's not because of all the presents wrapped beneath the tree. Actually, I don't think it's about anything tangible if I am honest with myself.  What is it about holidays that makes one think about the reality of life? I know, I really should just take some Tylenol pm and put myself to sleep.  But I just can't.  There's just something about Christmas that holds all the wonder, joy and mystery together. And when I sit awake at night wondering why some blessings befall some and not others, I recall the precious story of the birth of a baby born in a manger. 

Mary.  I can almost picture her as she is out in the gardens, chatting with her friends about the boy she has a crush on.  I mean, at around 14 yrs old, is there much else to talk about?  Joseph. Hard-working.  Soft-hearted.  Neither knew what the future held for them.  Did Mary lay awake at night pondering what all the future held for her when she was presented with such an unlikely turn of events?  She had to have.   Did Joseph feel as if the wind had been knocked out of him, only to take the next breath that held an air of sweetness to it?  He had to have.  I can't know for sure, but I know they both were human.  As human as all of us are.  And if we ask questions and ponder what God is doing in our lives, then I know they had to as well. 

The rest of the story, well, it's a choice.  Their circumstances required a choice on both of their parts.  Both said yes.  They didn't fight God for what was ahead, instead they laid steadfast in His hands, not know what the future held, just know He held their future.  Isn't that just too true.  All of us are faced at one time or another with joys and heartaches.  Our futures depend not on the outcome necessarily, but who controls the outcome.  And maybe that's just the message I needed to hear on this sleepless night in December.  Not only for my body to rest, but for my soul. 

Winds of Change

I love trees.  I am not sure how this love of trees began, but there is something about them that fascinates me.  As I began this blog post, it reminded me how much my life is like a tree.

Trees begin as a seed, and they grow.  They grow towards the light, however they can find it.   Eventually, they begin to blossom.  Some even provide sweet fruits or nuts.  They change too.  Some of their leaves fall off.  Some change colors.  Others twist and turn branches so that they again see the sun.  They need water.  And they need to be nourished. Some are resilient, and others are temperamental.  Some are tall, and some are short.  Some house life, while others grow solo.

Life has been crazy lately.  I know, it's crazy, but it reminded me of a tree.  Seasons.  Things change. And while seasons come around again, they will always be different, in one way or another.  I am thankful that through it all,   Jesus does not change.  He is the same.  And that's one thing I find comfort within.