Each day during Advent, we will post some sort of reflection having to do with waiting, anticipation, hope. Each one will be different, each one a chance to pause and take a breath during this busy season. Past posts are archived here.
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When we packed up to move to Scotland it was July. Christmas was nowhere on my radar, which is why we did not bring any holiday decorations. Had I thought about it, I suppose I could have anticipated that I would be wishing for some small reminder of the traditions we have celebrated together as a family for many years. I could have at least brought the stockings.
But what I’ve really been missing is our box of Christmas books. We have a whole pile of storybooks we only read at Christmas that I have added to over the years, and I love to watch the kids pull out all the familiar tales. Also, there are several books in that box that are just for me. I am longing for my daily Advent readings, winter stories and Christmas poetry. My big kids are really past the storybook age, but I have wished for the books for our youngest, Simon.
One of the few books we brought with us to our new home is our Jesus Storybook Bible, a precious gift from my aunt many Christmases ago. Simon had read it many times before we ever left Arkansas, but now that it is one of his only books, he practically has it memorized. Last night he was reading it again, and I thought, I have got to get to the library to get him something else to read.
This morning he came and sat with me on the couch while I was drinking my coffee, and in the sleepy quiet of the room, he whispered,
Mama, last night I asked God for another heart.
He went and he got his little storybook Bible and showed me the story of David, the shepherd and king. He told me to listen while he read these words aloud,
David was a great king. He had a heart like God – full of love.
Now, that didn’t mean he was perfect, because he did some terrible things – he even murdered a man. No, David made a big mess of his life. But God can take even the biggest mess and make it work in his plan.
“I need a new heart, Lord,” David prayed, “because mine is full of sin. Make me clean inside.”
God heard David’s prayer. He forgave David and he made David a promise: “I will make you great, David. And one day, a King will be born into your family, and he will heal the whole world.”
And just like that, the Christmas season found its way into our home again, ushered in without boxes of ornaments, or even a pile of stories. Only one story is truly needed, and though I love to hear it told in a thousand different ways, in the end there is only this: a King was born and He will heal the whole world.
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Today’s post was written by Alison Chino, who has spent most of her life as a part of Fellowship North. She is currently living in Scotland, along with her husband Taido and their kids: Cole, Mary Polly, Ben, & Simon. Together they are having many adventures and Alison is blogging about it all at alisonchino.com.
You can also find Alison on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.