When winter comes and winds are cold and keen,
When nights are darkest, though the stars shine bright,
When life shrinks to its roots, or sleeps unseen,
Then may He bless and bring you to His Light.
For He has come at last, and can be seen!
God’s Love made vulnerable, tightly curled,
The Winter Child, the Savior of the world.
–a poem by Malcolm Guite
December, 2022
Dear Friends,
As we celebrate the coming of our Savior into this world, winter has also come to us here in our world, the Catskill mountains. We know that when we hear the winds blow and the snow plows driving by the house that it’s time to get out the shovels/sand/salt and gas up the snowblower, pull out the crockpot and the snow boots, replenish our batteries, and layer our warmest clothing. In this first week of meteorological winter we have already experienced heavy snow, ice, rain, freezing and melting, a wind advisory or two and a couple of power failures. Oh yes, so let’s be sure the generator is ready. This is real!
Winter with its snow sculptures and skyscapes can be so beautiful, but it also keeps us on our toes. For us, one of the hardest parts of winter is the darkness. Short days, long nights, lots of cold, gray weather and cloudiness. After a week or so of winter weather, I so long for the sunshine, the light. But when the winter sun DOES shine, unfiltered by the leafless trees, it is brighter than ever. Just a few minutes of sunlight feeds the heart and the soul!
In these days, the darkest days of 2022, we pause to worship and honor the Light of the World, who came for all of us. Just as we long for sunlight in winter, we long to linger in the warmth of His Son-light. What a joy and blessing to spend quiet moments basking in His Love and Light.
For our family, the darkest days of 2022 were not in December. They began in April, when we suddenly and unexpectedly had to say goodbye to our granddaughter. This doesn’t feel right or good. Our faith and trust in God has been shaken. These days have indeed been dark, but I am here to tell you that the joy of God’s presence has been deeper than any pit of sadness or despair. We can choose to thank God, and to trust Him, even in this season. Spending time with the Lord every day, and often multiple times a day, has been our lifeline. He has held us tight and overwhelmed us with His love. God’s lovingkindness, His faithfulness, and His peace have not failed us. And we can say and believe once again that God is good. All the time. We can (and do) trust Him.
Now it is Christmas, and this year will soon be drawing to a close. God gave me a word last Christmas, before I knew how much I would need it. My word for 2022 was ‘Immanuel’. God with us. He came to earth as a baby. He came for each one of us because of His great love. And Dan and I can testify that even in the darkest days, He has been with us every moment. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us.
We are so grateful for friends like you who have prayed for our family during this time. We pray that God may bless you richly in the coming days, and that you may each know God’s great love this Christmas and in the New Year. Love that is beyond our ability to know and understand. We pray that you will spend time with the Lord every day, sitting quietly in His presence. Reading and meditating on the Word and communing with Him in prayer. Basking in the warm, Son-shine of His love for you. May this be your lifeline in 2023.
In His Steadfast Love,
Dan and Nancy
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. –1 John 1:7
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