Advent Reflection

Although it was a bit late coming to me, I enjoyed reading this book over part of December.

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp is a daily devotional, with a bible verse, and her own educated thoughts on it, and then some question to reflect.

I had mixed feelings through out the book. Between those feelings, and unsettled family issues throughout the month, I found myself up and down day by day. Some days I really luved, and looked forward to the next reading, and other days I closed the book, annoyed, or frustrated. One day particularly after I finished reading felt crushed. Overall it was about, grace, and I understand the idea of being saved by grace, and not by anything I do, but seeing it like that, made me feel sad. This time in my life is not my own. I spend most of the hours in a day striving to meet everyone's needs. I luv being a mom, I'm happy to give this time to my children, knowing that it will all come back 2 fold someday. But at the end of the day, sometimes the only thing I have is the satisfaction of getting through the day, feeding everyone, maybe baths, and 1 or 2 things knocked off the constantly growing to do list. It made me feel sad that it doesn't matter. And I knew before that it didn't really matter, when it comes to salvation, but for me, right now, there are day's I'm searching for a reason to get up, struggle through that day, knowing there will be bickering, fighting, and that keeping children content isn't always an easy task. (Sometimes it is!)

And she continued to talk about the "Jesse Tree" throughout the book. I found that irritating, because I've gone to church more years in my life then I haven't, and I had no idea what she was talking about.

A bit of research has taught me something new! I luv this idea, and look forward to making ornaments and teaching my wee ones about the 'Jesse tree' next December, and hanging each one on a tree special for this purpose!

So I didn't actually finish the book, but there was one piece that still stands out to me...

"You can stand around a Christmas tree with a family tree like Joseph's, with cheaters and beaters and deceivers, with a family like Jacob's, who ran away and ran around and ran folks down. But out of a family line that looks like a mess, God brings the Messiah. What was intended to harm, God intended all of it for good, and no matter what intends to harm you, Gods arms have you. You can never be undone. 

No matter what intends to harm you......

God is never absent,"

God is never absent.

What a wonderful and comforting thought. 

So I reflect that its been good, reading and learning and being forced to think and look at things in a new light. And that was the intent, right?

I am thankful to own the book, and plan to, along with a Jesse tree, read, reflect and hopefully learn more and finish the book next December.