The With-ness of Christ

In the dead of winter, the barrenness of it all creates a stark beauty. Black against white, the green of conifers against the bare deciduous trees and shrubs. Life and death, it comes to all, whether we are prepared or not. 

We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out.

1 Timothy 6.7

In the past week I have lost my mother-in-law to a long illness and have heard from 5 other people who have also lost a parent very recently. We have all prepared or are preparing to say goodbye in a very formal way. Some have already attended the funeral or memorial, for others it is today. Ours for mum is on Monday.

Dealing with a death in the family at Christmas time can put a damper on all the festivities. In the midst of Advent, waiting and soul-searching, I want to throw up my hands and question, "Really Lord? You wanted this to happen now?" Some days I want nothing more than to climb in my car and drive as far away as possible. 

I don't want to deal with the mess, the tears, the memories. And then I read a devotional today and was asked to consider something. "Consider Emmanuel, the with-ness of God, right where we are, not where we wish we were instead."

The point of Advent, or any day of the year for that matter, is that Christ can and will meet us right where we are at. In the mess of life. The memories that it holds and the spilling of tears as we remember. So let Christ meet you, as I open the door for him to meet me and my family right where we are. In the mess-ness of life and the with-ness of Christ, I am reminded through Scripture: 

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job 1.21

Yes, through these days I will continue to look towards heaven and thank the Lord for all I have been given and for all which has been taken away. I will say, 

Blessed be his name! Amen!

Deep peace and blessings,

Diane