A Season of Hope


For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. --Ecclesiastes 3:1

"Learning to load her wheelchair into her car and drive with just the use of her arms will come...in another season."

That's what the family specialist told us regarding my sister-in-law's rehabilitation. She was struck by a car on September 17, 2000, and is paralyzed from the chest-level down.

"Now is the time for her to heal," explained the specialist.

"She must remain flat on her back, no sitting up, for six more weeks."

'Tis the season to be jolly???

One of Webster's definitions of season is "to express a time of flourishing, to bear flowers, to blossom or to develop,"

It is often too easy to think of all the things my sister-in-law can't do this Christmas season. It's too easy to think about the "if only's" and the "what if's" and to remember and hold on to the "used to be's."

But Christmas offers something far greater than all these thoughts. It offers the season of hope as new life approaches us from a lowly manger. New life which flourishes and develops and blossoms into the Savior Jesus Christ. New life which teaches us about suffering, but more importantly, teaches us about love.

My sister-in-law has begun a new season, living a new life. We, as those who love her and who have been touched by her, have also begun a new season and a new life. We are learning tremendous lessons about hopelessness and despair and we are also learning about courage and strength. We are learning about life on this earth.

Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for sending us the ultimate example of hope even in the midst of suffering. Let us set our eyes upon the manager as we enter this new season of Christmas. In Jesus' name, Amen.

--Leigh D.