Dear Family and Friends,
I’ve been trying to figure out how to start this year’s letter for some time now. I’ve been reflecting on the past year’s activities and events and what has happened this past year, what God has been doing, what has been going on.
I was blessed this year to be in a couple of productions (“Arsenic & Old Lace” in the spring; “It’s a Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play” just this month) with some special people. I was blessed to spend time with family and friends near and far. I’ve been especially blessed to spend time watching my grandson growing up this past year and I’m specially blessed to be awaiting the birth of my second grandson, due in March. It has been a year of blessing.
And then my niece’s cat died this week. Actually we had her put to sleep. Darcy was 18 years old, blind, deaf and becoming more feeble in the last few weeks.
I got to know this cat when I moved in with my sister, Rey. This was the cat that would greet me when I came home late because she’d been locked out of the garage. We’d go in the front door together and I’d let her back into the garage where she slept. This was the cat that would meow incessantly from the garage every morning until we fed her on our way off to work… she’d stopped meowing the last few weeks. This was the cat that kept all of our dogs in line… she backed down to no one. I had to comfort my niece, as she held Darcy one last time, from a distance because, sadly, I’m allergic to cats.
There have been difficulties this year. I’ve grieved with family and friends through the loss of loved ones. I finally succumbed and underwent shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff and have endured subsequent rehab. It has been a difficult year on multiple levels. You read the news and see suffering and hardship everywhere. It has been a year of hardship.
Then I read this quote which I had received from Of First Importance. They send daily quotes via email if you subscribe and I do. The quotes are intended to help focus on that which is of first importance, namely, the Gospel of Christ. The quote spoke to me and I pray it speaks to you. I pray it speaks hope to you, and comfort. I pray it speaks encouragement to you, and expectation.
“On this side of eternity, Christmas is still a promise. Yes, the Savior has come, and with him peace on earth, but the story is not finished. Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long for peace in our world.
Every Christmas is still ‘a turning of the page’ until Jesus returns. Every December 25 marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that draws us closer to . . . home.
When we realize that Jesus is the answer to our deepest longing, even Christmas longings, each Advent brings us closer to his glorious return to earth. When we see him as he is, King of kings and Lord of lords, that will be ‘Christmas’ indeed!”
– Joni Eareckson Tada, “A Christmas Longing” in Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ed. by Nancy Guthrie (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008), 137.
I’m looking forward to that Christmas indeed! I pray that you are as well. God bless you in 2009!
All Things Elda 