Some where today there is laughter and joy. There is that special feeling in the air that Christmas brings. The smells, the sounds of families gathered together and the Love that fills many homes. Yet there is also a child that is lonely there is a mother that is crying, and there is a family that is broken. We all have things that bring us joy during this season for giving and thankfulness and we all have those things that bring us to despair and sadness. Yet through it all God is still good. He is there in the darkness and he is there in the light. I have had plenty of time to reflect on what is truly important this Christmas season as have my precious children.
During a time of separation from a deployment seems to always be the worst thing in the world. However the Bible says that "ALL things work together for good." That means yes, even this deployment was no surprise to the Lord and that yes, he meant it for good for our family. I will be honest. There have been many a times when I have cryed and asked the LORD "How, and why" Yet I am always comforted through the inner peace that he brings. There will be many things that come my way that I will not always understand, yet I must embrace them, good and bad as a blessing from the Lord.
Tatum, Elyssa and Titus have all learned a valuable lesson this year on what it means when we say Christmas is not all about the gifts. To hear a sweet 7 and 6 year old say that all they want for Christmas is to have their Daddy home, and that they would give back all of their gifts just to have that, makes your heart melt and break. They have learned as well as I that us as Americans place so much emphasis on the material. And yes even us as Christians do also. We live in such a fast pace society where we are consistently trying to keep up with everything and everyone.
The Lord has shown me much through this deployment about what it really means to love and to trust and to have strength and faith. He has consistently shown me that even when I want to break down because I feel so alone that He is ever beside me.
I am praying that all of our family and friends have a wonderful Christmas and that no matter where you are look around you and see how blessed you are. There is always something to be thankful for and there is always someone that has things much worse then we think we have them.
Luke 2:1-11
Merry Christmas dear readers.
Love,
Mrs. Brittany Brown
