This Christmas was not at all what I had prepared for. Our two new boys have only been with us for 4.5 months and this was their first Christmas away from thier birth family. Thanksgiving went smoothly, but Christmas is a whole nother animal. Kids see lots of movies and commercials too that help them create this picture perfect scene of what it should be. They remember what it was like before whether that was good, bad or somewhere in between. They remember their family and that can be very painful.
Several of the days surrounding Christmas were tough. However the Christmas pageant the night before and the day of were just wonderful. I can't tell you we did anything special. There was no magic trick or sedation involved; we just kept it simple.
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| Zoolights trip Dec. 2015 |
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| Zoolights 2015 |
All along we had been emphasizing the truth of Christmas and the many differences in how we celebrate it versus the image they may have built up. It's a simple time with an amazing story of redemption, our redemption. The time of waiting for the Messiah was over. He had come, not as the people had hoped, but he came in His way and His time.
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| Toby almost 3 years post placement |
By God's grace He is working out his plan of salvation and the revelation of His word in the hearts of all my boys. Each of them is at a different point in their walk of faith. Some have yet to believe while others know He is true. Through yet another simple means God gave me encouragement to keep teaching, loving and serving these boys. On Sunday the kids were up front talking with Pastor during the children's sermon about all the lights around the church and he asked what do all these lights have to do with Jesus? My foster son pipes up loud and clear, "Because He is the light of the world!"
" The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness." Isaiah 9:2
I am humbled to be a part of God's work. This season like never before, has deeply moved me because of Jesus sacrifice for me. Even being a Christian my whole life, I am in awe that God would do anything for me let alone allow me to be a part of sharing the gospel with the world. I don't deserve any of this. I have screwed so many things up. But Jesus in obedience to His Father came to be the light in my darkness!
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year with love,
