Swept up

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will exult over you with loud singing!” – Zephaniah 3:17

December can be cold.

Not the icy, snowy, windy kind of cold; but the bone chilling, heartbroken, bleak drifts, lost in the depths, soul gripping darkness kind of cold.

Many get buried in its festive, lights twinkling, gift giving celebration in a kind of numbing one foot in front of the other frenzy. Truth is, they would much rather bow out and NOT do all the things.

This month, though a very real cause for joy, is often felt as long and heavy because of the loss of loved ones or events that are naturally shared with family who are no longer there. It may also be the expectation of happiness that is never experienced, despite that ‘everyone’ says one should be excited and eager to feel that way.

December seventh is my husband’s mama’s birthday which she celebrates in heaven today. December fourteenth, twelve years ago, my daddy left abruptly to continue his life in heaven. December seventeenth my husband’s brother went off with Jesus. December twenty second, last year, my dear father-in-law quickly went to join his beautiful wife on heaven’s shores. So many of our other friends and family have finished their race course here on earth.

All of this gives me pause. Every loss is a reminder that this earth is not my home. I am jealous of those who have finished and gone before me. I was especially angry at my father for going off on a walk WITHOUT ME! to his true home.

But…

With every cruel cold loss is the promise of the celebration of life with Jesus, whether here on earth or in heaven.

I see myself being swept up into His arms when I feel low, when I am in the dark, when I feel the frigid cold air of December gripping my heart.

It is the outpouring of His love that sweeps me up. Though I imagine the strong arms of my daddy doing the sweeping up, it is really the powerful embrace of a Loving God with the promise of the better, the best and the really, really amazing, as I run toward Him, and am lifted up above it all, and swung around in joyous exhilaration!

The sweeping leads to dancing and then on to laughter and singing.

Then, December doesn’t feel quite so cold any more.

There is a fire burning in my heart! I pray that it is one that spreads to every other human that I touch; that it is a torch that sets off a mighty blaze throughout the earth!