And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
I don’t know how Peggy Frezon (All God’s Creatures) was able to get her goldens to not only sit still but also wear simple costumes long enough to pose for a Christmas card picture. That is a mystery! Even my candid animal pictures either come out blurry or the animals run off before I finish. Her message? God gives comfort to us so give Him the glory.
*****
Five golden retrievers posed in front of our old backyard shed. Zeke, our son’s gentle dog and faithful friend for eight years, sat at one end. Our own female rescue came next, looking down at Jack, our son’s new wiggly puppy, who was attempting to dive out of an open wooden crate. Next came our senior dog, followed by our slightly younger golden.
When I’d thought about our Christmas card photo for last year, the idea had immediately jumped to my mind—we had the perfect grouping for a nativity scene! A shepherd, a wise man, Mary, Joseph, and ten-week-old Jack to portray the babe. We simply draped a plain towel around each dog and attached a rustic star to the shed. While it was unique, I made sure the scene was reverent; we were doing it in complete respect and honor to commemorate the birth of the blessed babe. The dogs sat attentively for their picture. The scene was adorable and poignant.
A few weeks later I looked at the finished product and wiped away a tear. After we’d sent the card to be printed, we’d unexpectedly lost one precious granddog, Zeke, to cancer. The Nativity picture—our Christmas greeting—was now a source of sorrow. I debated even sending it out. Yet along with the sadness, I also felt grateful that Zeke was present in that very special picture, that we could look back upon it and remember him well. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the photo served to reinforce the true meaning of Christmas. The holidays can be an emotional season, one of great joy yet also one of grief that someone special is no longer celebrating with us. But the season is, foremost, a time to give glory to the baby in the manger, the Son, who gives us comfort and hope for the future, Oh come, let us adore Him!
Loving Lord, thank You for life lessons learned through tears. Help us not to sink so far into grief that we cannot praise You for all Your blessings. AMEN.