On the Eve of Christmas...

From their bedrooms come shouting voices,

  "Wake up, Mom! Wake up, Mom!  It's time to wake up!" 

 One eye opens, then the other.  Don't. Want. To. Leave. Warm. Bed.  Eyes close again.  A few more minutes pass.  Sleeping again.

 "Mommmmm!" 

 Okay, okay, okay.  Throw covers back, stretch and yawn.  Slippers check. Robe check. I. Can. Do. This.  Get the wet diaper changed.  Stumble down the stairs still barely awake.  Oldest daughter perched on a chair waiting to open the door on the Advent box.

  "It's baby Jesus today!  It's the last day.  Tomorrow's Christmas!"  

Excitement from the girls.  The littlest is repeating in her toddler voice,

 "Baby Jesus, baby Jesus."  

The long awaited puzzle is put together after collecting one piece each day from the Advent box.  Coffee. Coffee.  I NEED coffeeeee.  Oatmeal & waffles are made.  Then a request to watch some TV. 

"Okay, but then we're going outside."  

There appears to be 2-3 inches of fresh snow that will need to be shoveled.  The sound of little feet going down the stairs.  Ahhhh, quiet.  The smell of the Balsam candle.  Coffee with cream, oatmeal topped with wheat germ.  Then, a reminder in my heart and mind, to be still.  There's so much competing for time spent with God and to be in his word.  I sneak up to the bedroom trying not to wake the hub, and grab my Bible.  Sit down and open God's word to Isaiah.  Meditate on Chapter 9 verse 6:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." 

In this world of uncertainty and chaos we can be certain of this- that the Prince of Peace will reign forever to which there will be no end.  I suddenly feel content and at peace resting in that promise.  I look up at the shelves where Christmas photos of friends and family are displayed.  I'm reminded of one family who has experienced repeated turmoil and an unimaginable injustice this past year.  But, God has always had a plan to intervene in the midst of the chaos.  The concept of something being everlasting is so foreign in our throw away/ everything is replaceable culture.  Nothing and no one can compete with what Jesus has to offer us--eternal and everlasting life with him.  May we have the peace that only He can give in the midst of the chaos and storms.

Luke 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."