I’ve told you this before. How this is my year of deja-vu.
I felt it again when I pushed those red snowboots onto her tiny feet. The boots look barely worn, but I know they are nearly a decade old. I remember how my oldest, my other daughter, wore them on Chicago’s snowy sidewalks.
Jonathan and I have goofy grins as we watch our baby tumble in snow for the first time. We’ve worn these smiles before. I know we have. Strangely, they feel brand new.
I thought it would be different this time. This fourth baby. This second daughter. And it is.
But not in the way I thought. I assumed it would be recognizable. Known. Like a comfortable coat we’ve worn before. Instead, it feels surprising. There is the shock of newness. We’ve lived it before, but this is no second-hand delight.
It is as if an echo had something new to say, something new to reveal, with each repetition.
At Advent, I am accustomed to seeing the baby in the crèche as the already-was. The one who came but not the one I am waiting for. I look toward King Jesus and wonder how long, but what if that baby is new every year?
I’ve heard this before. How we must make room in our hearts, in our communities, for him to be born again. I always thought it sentimental.
I’m realizing today that doesn’t make it untrue.
What if he could be born again and again to us, shocking and miraculous every time?
What if Christmas could bring us the yearly return of a joy that is always new?
We have two “sets” of kids – the older ones and two-year-old twins. I’m finding that not only is the experience new in its own way this time around, I am new too and this is a strange and wonderous thing to behold.
Oh, yes, Kelly! I hadn’t thought of it before, but you are exactly right. I, too, am new this time around. And aren’t we all, hopefully, at least a little bit new every year of our lives? Every time Christmas rolls around?
So much to think about. Thank you, Kelly.
Yes, what if we could capture the wonder of it every day and not just one month a year. Love this photo, even though I’ve seen it before, it never gets old.
Shelly, I think you do exactly that! It’s one reason I appreciate your stories so much.
YES, what if ….
YES, may Christmas bring new joy, miraculous new joy.
Love your words, love tje picture.
Thank you, Sue! Many blessings to you this Advent.
Beautiful. So very.
Thank you, Jennifer. Your encouragement means so much.
THANK YOU – beautiful, precious – a gift!!!!!!!!!!!!
xo
You are welcome, Tracy! So glad to have you reading along.
Maybe if I come to the stable like an awe struck shepard I will see with new eyes.
Yea, I want it new every day. I want to notice it, every blessed day–in the fullest measure of gory I can percieve.
And that photo?–absolutely beautiful. wow.
LOVE this – all of it, words and picture. (And when was that picture taken?? – 1st little girl or 2nd?)
Thank you, Diana! I should have captioned that photo – it’s one of my favorites, taken by my sister on her one (and only so far!) visit to Maplehurst. That’s Elsa Spring our fourth. Born six weeks after our move from FL to PA.