When I received this ornament, I had two kids under the age of two. My husband’s job kept him gone constantly. I had just started a new job. We had moved cross-country for the second time in less than a year. I was a mental mess!
Worse of all, my father was terminally ill. Daddy would pass away two days before Christmas. My life was out of control.
When I opened the box and saw this ornament, I laughed. It was a very accurate reflection of my life. The kids and I were barely hanging on! This ornament mirrored the haphazard chaos I could not control.
Yet at that same time I had no idea of how many people were praying for me. Many of them I barely knew. God placed it on their hearts to help me in ways I would have never imagined. New co-workers were tremendously kind. Childhood friends provided for me while I was immersed in my grief.
I now view this ornament not as a reminder of when I was barely hanging on but as a symbol of God’s grace. God kept us from falling even as we dangled precariously. It reminds me how God is ever present even when we feel like we can’t hang on.
What I received as a simple gift evolved into a wonderful friendship. Sharon, who gave me the ornament, would become an example for parenting my child. You see, she had already raised a son with special needs. I’m not even sure I was aware of that at the time. Yet, her faith and wonderful attitude would inspire me when I felt drained, lost and thought I couldn’t go on.
God knew who I would need in my time of crisis. My child wouldn’t be diagnosed ASD for another year. Yet, Sharon’s silent fortitude and cheerful smile would later encourage me to keep it together.
God knows who we need and how to connect us to them.
Trust Him.
Christmas could be bittersweet. However I choose not to revisit my grief. Instead, I celebrate the birth in Bethlehem that saves us from the sting of death!
I now look back on Christmas past grateful for what God did then and faith filled for what He will do in the future.
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 NKJV
Merry Christmas!!
GOD, autism and me 
Love this post–what we need, when we need it. I needed this. 😉
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So Glad! 🙂
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Thank you for this post. I love the ornament and appreciate what it stands for. I have experienced some pretty hard Christmases and this one is no exception. My dad has just died. He had been declining in health for some time and it wasn’t completely unexpected. And yet it was sudden in the end and you are never quite ready. It is a very big shock to the system for my Mum who has cared for him devotedly for many years. Today would have been their 61st wedding anniversary. At present we are too busy preparing for the funeral to think about Christmas and yet I have just led a small Advent group at my parent’s house. It was very peaceful. We are being upheld by prayer.
Best wishes, Julia
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Julia,
You most certainly have my prayers at this trying time. I’m glad to hear that in it all you are able to to lead your group. I don’t know that I could have done that, but maybe it is just what you needed.
May God’s peace be with you! Through it all, He is there every step of the way. Lilka
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I love this Lilka. Wonderful to look back through an ornament and remember God’s faithfulness through some very difficult times.
Thank you for staring!
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Merry Christmas!
They can tell so many stories. I look at many and can pinpoint certain times in my life. That ornament will always be dear to me. God can speak to us through so many things I find. Hopefully that post will inspire those people “going through” wondering how they will make it. Thankfully, God is faithful and holds us in His hand 🙂
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Isn’t it something what thoughts an ornament can evoke? My wife has always purchased a special ornament, perfect to fit the person, every year for every member of our immediate family. That’s 29 of them now.. They can’t wait to see what she found every year. Neat story!
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That’s a great idea your wife has there!
I look at some on the tree that my kids made, some knitted for me and many others, each with a story to tell. Christmas trees can hold a lot of history 🙂
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They do hold a lot of history. 43 years on ours. Lol. Have a great day, Lilka.
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This is so beautiful Lilka! I felt your heart.
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