John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch
“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”
There’s a memorable episode of “Friends,” in which Joey shows up to baby Emma’s first birthday party without a gift. Scrambling, he picks up the classic “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch and proceeds to share a dramatic reading. By the end, Rachel’s in tears, Ross is expressing gratitude for such a meaningful gift, and even Chandler is touched, “I wasn’t ready for that today.”
There’s just something about forever that goes right to the heart of our fear and our hope. I can’t imagine forever. But I also can’t imagine any of this indescribable love ever ending.
It’s Christmas morning. It looks far different now than it did just a few years ago. A few years from now, it will look different still. What remains as time goes on? What endures forever?
The Word became flesh and lived among us. I can’t imagine it. But I also can’t not imagine it.
God lives among us, full of grace and truth, forever. As long as we’re living, and even after we’ve died, we are God’s children. God keeps your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
I can’t always believe it, but it’s always true. Love is forever.
“Faith, Hope, and Love” created with the Wombo Dream app.
Thank you for journeying with me through this Advent season. I hope something along the way has reminded you of God’s forever love for you.
On this Christmas morning, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Forever.
And a second song today…one in which forever gives me goose bumps every time.
Christmas blessings, beloved ones. You are loved. Forever.