Cheeto the Cat and I woke up early this Christmas Eve morning. Truth be told, I woke up early. Cheeto staggered into the living room from his slumber in the guest room as if to say, “Seriously?” He’s with me strictly in a support capacity, watching the Yule log burn on TV while Dave ("the hubs" as my younger, much cooler colleagues call him) saws logs nearby.
This is the only time of day that’s completely quiet—especially if you live five minutes from a mall during Christmas shopping season. The older I get, the more I relish quiet time. And I’ve always loved to watch a fiery glow in the darkness—lights off, candles burning. It’s so peaceful. Your eyes naturally focus on the most beautiful thing in the room—that light.
I’m remembering a Christmas quite a few years ago, when I was writing the narration for our choir’s program at church and I stopped by Aunt Patsy’s for a visit. I asked her if she had any idea where to find that Scripture passage about a great light coming into the world and the prophecy of a child who would be called the Prince of Peace. She had a vague notion: “That’s in Isaiah, chapter 9, verses 2 and 6.”
Aunt Patsy was an amazing Bible scholar with a sharp mind and a strong faith. I’m grateful, this Christmas, for loved ones like her who guided me to the light in the darkness:
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined. . . .
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9: 2, 6
[Image by Deepu Das @ Freerangestock.com]
Comments