Stay in God's Grip!
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact

 While in God's Grip!

Pain and joy...

12/18/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
~ Luke 2:6 - 7

This morning I was greeted by photos of a friend of mine with her newborn grandson.  The baby sleeping, nestled against the nap of her neck, along with the family dog sleeping just beyond the two, keeping watch, caused me to stop and realize the many things that were happening in this photo.

My friend lost her spouse to cancer just days within the time period that their daughter shared that she was pregnant.  It was one of those moments where joy and pain were inseparable, and then to try to find the words to describe that feeling, impossible.

I had been present with them the night before her spouse died, and I remember what I saw.  My friend, nestled up against her spouse, as soft music played.  The dog, again, just within arms reach, sleeping, but yet alert to anyone entering the room.  Their daughter, rolled up in a blanket, silently watching, and waiting for the last breath to finally come, while her husband slowly stroked her hair, and offered support.  

Two images of the same family.  Two images that describe significant chapters, and both offering the image of peace and love.

This is their first Christmas with all the changes that have happened this year.  Again, there is the joy and the pain.  I think in many ways the two are connected.  If it were not for pain, would we recognize when joy arrives, and without joy, would we ever move from beyond the pain?

The photo this morning also reminded me of the first Christmas that I experienced after the birth of our daughter.  While she had been born at Eastertime, that first Christmas just seemed to be extra special.  Somehow I could suddenly relate to an infant story that was part of my own experience.  The feelings that I had about keeping her safe, doing anything I could to ensure that her needs were met, and knowing what it felt like to hold within my arms one of the most amazing gifts I have ever encountered in my life.

Somehow it impacted my faith in a way that I suddenly realized that the only true way for God to be truly with "us," was that God had to come to us incarnate as an infant.  How else could we truly trust God?  God came to us in the truest form of vulnerability, as an infant.

The infant sleeping on the chest of my friend did more than just bring comfort, he also has brought healing.  The infant born in the darkness of the barn, nestled against the chest of a young Hebrew woman, brought hope.  The infant that we celebrate this season reminds us that beyond all the pain that we may experience, that there will once again be joy.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2020
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rev. G. Todd Williams lives in the Houston metro area and is a Hospice Chaplain at Essential Hospice, Webster, Texas, and is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor.

    He serves as the Stated Supply to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Galveston, Texas.

    His new book, "Remember Me When..." is available through Chalice Press.

    Archives

    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact