What a difference a year makes!

Last year on Christmas Day we were halfway moved from Michigan to Indiana. I had spent the entire day Christmas Eve loading, trucking and unloading our stuff in pretty cold weather to our new house and would spend the day after Christmas doing the same. We got together around a foot tall artificial Christmas tree and opened a couple of gifts in an otherwise mostly empty room. Later my wife and I went to see a movie because the stress of the move was so great.

Today? My house is still mostly quiet. A couple of kids are awake because they are sick but the rest are still sleeping soundly. Everyone is tired and not feeling well but we can just enjoy spending the morning together. We are probably not "going to church" this morning and I don't feel even a little bit bad about that. It is just nice to be with my wife and our children. We have a sense of permanence, of "home" here. It has been a great blessing to have come to know so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ in our new home over the last year. We have a house full of kids and dogs and cats and a little farm to work and enjoy. I am very happy and content. God has been good to us in so many ways and it is my prayer that we extend that same love and mercy and grace to others.

Regardless of whether you do or do not celebrate Christmas, these words still hold incredible meaning for all followers of Christ everywhere:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isa 9:6-7)

Merry Christmas!