Christmas — Hope in Eyes of a Child
Christmas is a season of hope. And hope is best viewed through the eyes of a child. Dating back to the birth of the baby Jesus, Christmas has been a joyous celebration of expectations, of possibilities, of what can be.
Christmas too, is a time of reflection. A time we look back. Mailboxes overflow with festive cards, family pictures, and rhythmic writings. Some contain happy stories. Others trumpet accomplishments. And yet some convey hardship.
Christmas seems to tug at the heart strings of our lives and emotions. Hope and reflection all wrapped up under the tree. Stories of life and families in process. My own included.
It was author Alex Haley who wrote, “In every conceivable manner — our families are a link to our past, and a bridge to our future.” So true!
2016 has brought deep sadness for our family. We’ve suffered loss and the declining health of our family patriarchs. Our mortality has been on raw display. And yet in the midst of these valleys, we too have had mountain top experiences. We love the view of the future as seen thro
ugh the hope and eyes of family, especially our grandkids.
In the spirit of “throw back Thursday” today I came across a few family pictures. My dad and his brother as boys. Me as a young boy. And then o
ur three grand kids. Quite a contrast, huh?
My dad’s family grew up poor. His dad died early. His single parent mom did the best she could, raising six kids and moving from town to town for work. My dad escaped and bettered his circumstances via
military service.
My childhood, though better, still had financial challenges. Playing youth baseball meant borrowed cleats and glove until my blue collar parents could save enough money to buy my own. For my siblings and me hard work and education became our betterment with all of us completing college and most of us graduate school.
Our children through the opportunities of education and hard work all have wonderful lives, careers, and families. By all accounts we’ve come along way from poverty and are blessed. The future holds much hope!
But let me be clear — our hope isn’t found in hard work or education or opportunity, as beneficial as they all may be. Our hope in this Christmas season is found in Jesus!
“What keeps the wild hope of Christmas alive year after year… is the haunting dream that the child who was born that day may yet be born again even in us and our own snowbound, snow-blind longing for him.“~ Frederick Buechner
Love the pictures, Dad! Yes, our family has come a long way, but we must not forget our hope is always in Christ alone. Love you!