This time of year, we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Sovereign God, come as a newborn babe - the King of kings, born in a stable. In this beautiful, backwards-from-society story, we see the love of the Father, in the giving of His Son. And we see the love of a father, in the accepting of his son. It held miraculous and messy in tandem.​

Last year, I wrote about how to enjoy a simple Christmas - even when it isn't by choice. I wrote about some of the hardships our family was encountering - illness, surgery, and my husband being out of work for the last six weeks of the year. I wrote about choosing joy when things are hard. I wrote about not allowing our circumstances to shift our gaze from the One who holds not only the season, but the whole world in His hands.

​I had no idea that just a couple of weeks later my ability to live out those words of encouragement would be seriously challenged. 

Dear Waiting Family,

​I know the halls are decked, but quieter than you'd hoped. The lights are twinkling, but your eyes feel dull. The ache of missing someone you've never met is heavy, especially during this season of celebrating the birth of our Savior. A baby born the King of kings.