Since we got back from Peru on the 19th of November, it seems like I've just been treading water to stay on top of the multitude of the fun craziness that comes with every holiday season. We went to Clare for Thanksmas, because the three of us (brother, sister, and I) are doing Christmas with our in-law families. It was really nice to spend time with my parents, especially since Dad is still recovering from heart-valve replacement surgery. We have new jokes too! I LOVE coming up with new inside jokes! His new valve is from a pig. Oh come on, how could you NOT have fun with that!!
WGM's winter missionary-staff conference is next week, and we're having some missionaries from Honduras stay with us. And then it's like, party central until Steve's family gets here on the 22nd.
And in the midst of it all, I want so much to take the time to meditate on "the real meaning of Christmas." At our fake (Fake in that it technically wasn't Christmas Eve, but we pretended it was) Christmas Eve the Friday after Thanksgiving, Dad read the Christmas Story out of Luke, paused a minute, then read the section about Simeon at the temple. And I was really struck by what he said to Mary: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own heart, too."
Not a very happy ending to the Christmas story. But what really good story does?
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