Sunshine on a Sad December Day

When I saw this photo on a post this morning, it made me smile. As the sun began shining this blustery, chilly morning, it reminded me of that December morning 19 years ago.

The night before this date, 19 years ago, I thought the tears would never stop flowing. I couldn't imagine how life would move forward, without our little Lydia Grace. I was sure the sun would not rise on that morning, 19 years ago... but it did.

Here in Ohio during many winter days, the sun doesn't always shine... but it did shine that next morning. As I felt The Lord holding me in His loving arms throughout that night, as my own arms ached for my baby girl and I sobbed, He planned hope for me in the morning. He sent a brilliantly, bright ray of sunshine through my bedroom window that next morning... as a sign to me, that life will go on.

As we awoke that morning, no sooner had we made it downstairs, than in through our door came my sister-in-law Paula, with a big pan of biscuits and gravy (the boys' and Buddy's favorite). Biscuits and gravy never tasted so good... before or since.

Even during heartbreak and tragedy in our lives, Our Wonderful Lord is there. We may not always (or ever) understand all His ways, or even like certain circumstances surrounding us, but we can rest assured that if we call upon His name, He will be there with us.

It was the next December, a year later, that the boys began Christmas Caroling to a few family and friends. Solomon and Elijah were mere toddlers, and Ezra an infant. But there was something healing about carols sang by smiley, excited, laughing, rambunctious toddlers celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and a visit at someone's doorstep to bring someone else some Christmas cheer. Jesus loved when the little children came to him... I can't help but think He also loves them singing His praises to others. Somewhere in every December since, I believe He was helping to restore my soul through all of our Christmas Caroling Adventures.

My eventual dream of a "Christmas Caroling Revival Sweeping our Land" was born from many blessings it brought, not only to our family, but also to those we caroled to. I pray that families, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors who could form a 'Little Christmas Caroling Gig' with those children around them this Christmas Season would do so. If every 'Little Christmas Caroling Gig' only caroled to their local neighbors and/or communities, His praises would reach the masses this Christmas Season.