God's sweet miracle

     She's only in her forties, but some days she looks much older. She's had a tough life. Her Grandma, that she lovingly calls "birdie", raised her along with her sister because her mama picked up and left one day and her daddy worked night shift on the railroad. God had worked it out so that they had a rental house right across the street from them. Every day, he would walk them across the street, where they would snuggle into a nest of love. Waiting and waiting, looking out that big picture window for a mama that never showed. Her sweet mind hoping that she would. Always having endless hope that one day her mama would come walking up and hold her in her arms. But Grandma made it all better. Her loving arms sufficed and made her feel secure. "Birdie's" tender care would never ever be forgotten. She grew from about 3 years to 20 years of age without her own mother. Still waiting. 

      Until one day, when she was quite older, and with the child of her own, the Lost was Found. But was it too late? All of the birthdays, High School Graduation, all of the picnics and movies and fun times had been missed. Even so, she never lost her love for that mama that was never there. Now it was different. A different kind of love. Almost role reversal you could say. Her mama was sick. Cancer of the lungs. Slowly fading away into 80 lb of nothingness. You could tell her mama regretted all the things that she had missed and it was so sad to hear about and watch, even from a distance. 

     Her mama died this Christmas. Her ashes lay a top her mantle. She is content though as she says, "This is the first time we are all together, mom, pops and me", she goes on to say, " sadly, it had to be this way. But I think she is at peace finally. Being with us here now."

     Her Christmas miracle had come. Finally. Where her family was finally together again. Not in a big box wrapped with a shiny bow, but in a life of wondering and suffering of heart to finally be at Peace. She is content with that, knowing that the "Prince of Peace" gave her a gift personally. 

     Christmas is more than gifts that we give. It's also about the gifts that Jesus gives to us. His are gentle yet sometimes fierce. Soft but sometimes rough. All in all, in the end there is Peace. The Christmas miracles are still happening and today we see the greatest one of them all today.

     Welcome baby Jesus!