What child is this, who lay to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping, whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the Son of Mary.
It is Christmas Day. Or should I say, Christmas night. All the presents have been opened. The carols have been sung. And the snow that was coming down this morning has even stopped.
And yes, it was a wonderful day in so many ways. The joy on my boys’ faces when they realized that Santa had been here last night. The reckless abandon tearing into their gifts. Faces lighting up around the room as we shared memories from years gone by.
But there was a gaping hole in the room. We all knew it.
Sometimes there were tears. Sometimes there were naps. Sometimes there was just pain.
And yes, we know he is here with us. And we know that he is watching over us and so very happy that we are all together – continuing the family that he and I began together. We just miss him. And on Christmas, it just hurts.
So on this day, as we celebrate the birth of the King of Kings, the babe, the Son of Mary, who is enthroned by loving hearts, we still press on. We still hold love in our hearts. And, as he would have wanted, we will live our lives as fully as we can.
We just do so wrapped in a love that both envelopes us in joy and sometimes hurts a bit more than we want to admit.
Even Before 