Guest Blog by: Midge

My hair is pulled back in a bandana, my cheeks have become red from exertion while furiously dusting my TV cabinet and the clock has just struck 3 a.m.  It seems as if every minute, before my family arrives at our home for a visit, is a countdown to do a final “clean sweep”.  But, this cleaning is not about my family staying at my house.  I also do the same extreme cleaning right before I leave on vacation. Odd, right?

It is one thing to pack our belongings for the holidays and to ensure we have clean clothes. Yet, it is quite another thing to rush around the house vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms when we will not be home for a week. My husband knows when to go to bed and let me fuss through the night on the household chores… in fact, I can hear him snoring right now.

When I took my diet soda break earlier, I found myself looking at all of our unopened presents under the tree. My thoughts turned somber when I thought of my “Grampa” who passed away a couple of months ago and to the teachers and small children in Newtown, Connecticut whose lives were stolen this past week. All of those unopened presents suddenly represented the hopes, dreams, and fond memories of those who may no longer be with us.

This year has been tough in so many ways and yet the vision of the presents under the tree began to also provide me with a renewed feeling of hope. To know you are loved, not just by your friends and families, but by the Creator of life who holds us even now in the palm of His hand is tremendous. His gift, through the sacrifice of His only Son, encompasses us with true Christmas love.

God’s love is a love that can hold us even in the depths of sorrow as we mourn those who are no longer with us this Christmas season.

The Chorus for “Your Hands” – by JJ Heller

“When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still”

You can play this song at:  http://www.jjheller.com/store/view/painted-red

Click on song number 11.

So, while we clean, pack, wrap, and bake, we can also pray for those who hearts are broken this holiday season that they will know the One who will hold them in the midst of sorrow.

What’s on your heart during the final days before Christmas?  Do you speed clean your home before leaving on vacation too?

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