Emmanuel

Seven year ago when I experienced my first miscarriage in October, the holidays suddenly lost their glamor. As we continued along that journey of loss, the Christmases that followed especially served up extra reminders of my pain. No children to take to the Christmas Eve service. No children awake at first light Christmas Day to see presents under the tree. Every festivity I had once enjoyed like decorating the house, frosting cookies, and singing carols seemed taken over by the emptiness I felt in my heart.

Yet, that emptiness forced me to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I felt God shifting my gaze away from holiday traditions and more onto Himself – the reason we celebrate. When I learned to do that, my heart was finally able to rejoin in the joy surrounding the season.

Little did I know that the very next Christmas, my arms would hold a beautiful and healthy baby boy. For a few years, celebrating Christmas wasn’t very difficult. But this last year for our family has been a hard one and we are currently grieving another pregnancy loss.

Once again, this cheerful time of year finds my heart a mix of celebrating and grieving. Again I am forced to preach to my own heart and shift my gaze off of myself and onto Christ.

There is a Christmas carol that has really helped me do this. I love the song “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” It reads like one long list of all the reasons we have to celebrate this season. Notice how each verse ends with the same exhortation: “Rejoice! Rejoice!” The command is always followed by one of the names of Him in whom we find endless reasons to rejoice: “Emmanuel”.

*“O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou, Dayspring from on high

And cause Thy light on us to rise

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death’s dark shadow put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, O come, true prophet of the Lord

And turn the key to heaven’s door

Be Thou our comforter and guide

And lead us to the Father’s side

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall by His word our darkness dispel

O come, our great High Priest, and intercede

Thy sacrifice, our only plea

The judgment we no longer fear

Thy precious blood has brought us near

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Has banished every fear of hell

O Come, Thou King of nations bring

An end to all our suffering

Bid every pain and sorrow cease

And reign now as our Prince of Peace

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come again with us to dwell”

As we approach this Christmas season, whether our hearts are heavy, light, or somewhere in between, it is my prayer that we can truly celebrate our Redeemer, Who has made a way for us to be with Him forever. ❤️

“Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Psalms 98:1-3

Merry Christmas!

Grace

*Traditional carol with additional lyrics by: Bob Kauflin and Steve Cook.