Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!

A few weeks ago, at one of the Christmas events we got to share with family, Graham decided to grace me with getting to hold him during the program.

First off, let me assure you…this little guy loves all his family equally and there is an abundant crew of arms that long to hold him so any time you get picked for the moment; it’s a treasure that you just soak up for as long as it lasts.

As the program ran on, he was getting a bit bored and talkative so I got some paper and pen out for him to draw. While it alleviated the boredom, it didn’t do much for the chatter.

He narrated as he worked, giving me play by play in the loudest quiet whispers he could muster.

As he drew circle heads and stick arms and legs, he told me the smaller one was him and the one with longer dangling legs was me.

Then he drew our arms stretched toward each other and conjoined them in a circle.

We are holding hands, he told me.

Well that was super sweet…

and then he said he would make a duplicate of it for me.

That way we would each have one to take home and when we miss each other we can hold the paper and hug it.

 

I may have cried.

But as I sit here on the cusp of Christmas day, I think of Jesus and how God sent Him to us as a child who grew into a man.

And that man showed God’s love for us by taking our place on the Cross, paying the penalty for our sins.

According to God’s Word, He then died and was resurrected…not just coming back to life, but overcoming death once and for all.

Literally.

For all people and all time.

And then He ascended into Heaven and released His Spirit which now makes His home in all who would receive Messiah, the Christ, as their Lord and Savior.

So … He kind of drew a picture of Himself on each of us who are believers…and He drew our picture on His nail scarred hands.

And aren’t we blessed that when we love one another, it’s a bit like hugging that piece of paper for G and me…

blessed be the tie that binds…our hearts in Christian love.

We love because He FIRST loved us.

God so loved the world…that He sent His only Son…that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish…but shall have everlasting L I F E …..  John 3:16

I pray God’s Joy and Love and Peace will permeate each of your hearts as we celebrate His love expressed for us through sending us His Son, Jesus Christ.

I pray you know His Presence and sense His love for you.

Hold fast to the heart of Christ.

He surely is holding your heart steadfastly, dear child of God <3