For unto us a Child is born           unto us a Son is given...

Christmas, 1998

Thirty-one years ago this Christmas Eve our second child, Stephanie, died of brain cancer. The "God with us" meaning of Christmas was engraved in our hearts, for without His coming we could not have endured that loss. Our whole family was carried through this trial in the bosom of our loving church. As her body failed, Stephanie had grown spiritually, and we were comforted in the knowledge that her soul could now soar free. Yet I can also remember thinking, "Okay, God, this game of life is certainly not fun, and I will never smile again."  My, how little we knew then of what this life is all about...
"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away," and until we've experienced both, we sometimes don't realize how blessed we really are. "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be," keeps popping into our minds now, as Doug and I share the mutual pleasures of this time of life. Perhaps, too, my real retirement this past June has given the time and perspective to reminisce about the road traveled together in forty-seven years of marriage. We marvel at the solid marriages and values of our three married children and revel in the achievements of our five grandchildren, sensing that Stephanie's spirit has touched them all.
This gift of Time together in the "Golden Years" to savour accomplishments of a loving family, warm relationships with caring friends, and all of life's "leisure" activities seems almost too good to be true, especially in the light of the tremendous conflicts, heartaches and sufferings of humanity.
Yet, as the third millennium draws near, perhaps it would be fitting that we also take note of the enormous progress of humanity during this century, progress in planetary consciousness in the sense that we are one world. Think of the international cooperation in building the new International Space Station, the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. Think of the Internet linking up the entire planet (and SPACE), thus facilitating international understanding and communication, instant knowledge, instant sharing of new insights and discoveries across races, cultures, space and time!
As mankind globally reminds itself again this Christmas that God is with us, let's rejoice. Let's not despair at the approach of Y2K, saying things are so bad in this world we'll never smile again. Let's keep the faith, and continue to spread God's Kingdom by radiating His Love, Peace and Hope through our lives.