Advent closes and now...Christmas

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the
hill country,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped
in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  and
exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
fruit of your womb.  And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my
Lord comes to me?  For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the
child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who
believed that there would be a fulfillment of
what was spoken to her by the Lord."   Gospel of Luke

The gospel reading from yesterday reminded me of Barbara and her impact on my life. In our life together after conversion to Christ and becoming new creations we learned together to be obedient to what God was telling us. We were far from perfect, but we always tried to do what He told us to do. That meant that sometimes we bit off more than we could chew and then we'd have to chew it....but we never regretted being obedient. We believed what Scripture dictated and what the Holy Spirit counseled us to do.  Barbara often told me the World would be a different place altogether if His people would just do what that "still small voice" in their heart was telling them to do.  How many more children would be adopted, how many divorces would be prevented, how many children would not be aborted, how much more would be given to help widows and orphans, how many more souls would learn of the gospel from the acts and words of their neighbor, how many poor choices and decisions with lifelong and eternal consequences would be avoided, and on and on... Thank you Father for letting me share the time you gave me with a woman whose heart's desire was to be obedient to your Heart.

All our children and grandchildren with the exception of Sophia and Joshua will be here for Christmas. I felt it was important to all to stick with all our our traditions that we had implemented through the years.  Personally, I didn't think I could do it, but going through the motions and preparations has been comforting in a bittersweet way.  The old adage, "bring the body and the mind will follow" has proven true. Everything is colored by the fact that she isn't here to share with us.

Yesterday Matt and Maddy sang at the rest home where Maddy has been singing each December for the last four years.  Matt started joining her last year. They sang some carols together, Matt sang some show tunes and crooned a couple of old standards while Maddy sang some jazz standards and played her ukelele.  Couldn't help from crying as this was something Barbara was always a part of. Particularly poignant were the last two she sang,  Danny Boy"  and then "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  I leave you with the last stanza.  To all of our dear Friends and Family....Have a blessed Christmastide.....cherish those you love for man knows not his time....

                                      Through the years 
                                   We all will be together,
                                        If the Fates allow
                   Hang a
shining star upon the highest bough.
                 And have yourself A merry little
Christmas now.  

In His grip,

Papa Tripp