Love can always find us

Thank you for subscribing to Storyteller, a monthly digital series about faith, family, life, and learning.

I learned a profound lesson about divine Love meeting our every need, that has followed me through the years.  

I remember only too well the first Christmas after our daughter Jenn passed away.  Our family worked at being normal, being happy, and being grateful.  We were used to being a boisterous family of six. The new “five” seemed such a quiet and empty number.

We followed our traditions and tried not to let each other see how deeply we were hurting inside. One strategy we followed was to purchase new Christmas stockings with no names on them so that the missing stocking would not be so obvious.

As we had for the past couple of years, we exchanged packages with Jenn’s fiancee and his family, knowing that we were all experiencing the same feeling of loss. I tried to kindle the glow in my heart that I always had when I read that precious Bible story from Luke:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

When we were growing up our father read that story to us every Christmas Eve before we went to bed.  We did the same with our children. The peace and goodwill, and the glory promised in those verses were promises I believed in.  This particular Christmas they were promises that felt illusive.

That Christmas morning we gathered around the tree in our pajamas and handed out the brightly wrapped gifts. It was another Christmas rich in giving. We were soldiering on for each other, but our hearts were heavy.

After all the gifts were opened and we were examining our new treasures, someone noticed that there remained one package way in the back behind the tree. When I reached back to pick it up I saw the tag. It read, “To Mom, Love Jenn. None of us could imagine how this happened. Disbelieving, I opened the box and found inside a snow globe. It was a winter scene with a chapel in the woods, and it played my favorite, Silent Night. None of us could speak for a moment. With tears brimming in our eyes we all realized that Jenn would never leave us because God’s love would always find us.

A phone call to Jenn’s fiancee revealed that the package had arrived at their home shortly after Jenn’s passing.  They wrapped and saved it to include in the box of Christmas gifts that they sent us. It seems that Jenn had purchased the snow globe earlier in the year, wanting me to have it for Christmas. 

God’s grace is a wonderful thing.  He cares for each of us, His children, just as he did for his son, the Christ child. We were reminded that day that love transcends all, and we will never be without it. We move from glory to glory in this life, and we can all be secure in knowing that through His grace, God will always find a way to reach into our hearts with His love. 

So let’s keep on loving this Christmas, and look for ways to be instruments of His peace, to share His strength and love with those who might need a smile, or a meal, or a snow globe.

Merry Christmas,

Merry

---

Register

Purchase

Learn More

www.merrysorrells.com