Greetings from Rochester,
As I was walking home from work in the wee hours of the morning, the snowflakes were glittering in the crisp air as the moon shined down around me. And as I was walking I found myself looking up at heaven and reflecting back to over 2000 years ago when Christ Jesus was born in a manger surrounded by cattle, donkey's, and camels. In the Bible in the book of Matthew it talks about the great joy the wise man experienced when they saw the star shining in the sky leading to Jesus’s birthplace in Bethlehem. When the Wiseman found Him with his mother in the lonely stable they presented their gifts and worshiped him. And just as the Wiseman worshiped him over 2 millenniums ago, I look forward to joyfully singing one of my favorite Christmas songs throughout this Christmas season to reflect upon the greatest gift that we have been given.
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother1
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
Our lives were forever changed this past summer when we accepted Emmaline June in to this world. She is a true bundle of joy and a blessing from above. Abby is thankful for the ability to stay at home fulltime to care for Emmaline and continues to pursue her hobbies of drawing, sewing, and baking. Luke continues to work at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He graduated with his pediatric nurse practitioner degree this past May and continues to pursue his Doctorate in Nursing Practice. We are truly grateful for all of the blessings that this year has brought.
As you go about the hustle and bustle of this Christmas Season may you take a moment to reflect on the most precious gift that was given to us, born in a lonely stable over 2000 years ago. May you know His Joy this Christmas.
Merry Christmas,
Luke, Abby, and Emmaline
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