keeping it real on christmas eve

and here's the reality of our christmas eve
sore throat
kids coughing
rain pounding the roof
floor in need of a vacuum
still another wal-mart run looming
wrapping left for seven presents
but i have a deeper discontent
i just feel sad
for the brokenhearted today
i heard
a pastor speak these funeral words
to a sanctuary full of the deeply bereaved
last week
peace isn't 
the absence of war
but 
the presence of love
the truth is that sometimes peace scatters
with the wind
but how do we beckon her back, this peace?
paul teaches that we....
rejoice, pray, and give thanks
not so easy in the midst of heartache,
but
it
is
right

i would like to pray for you this day....how may i?

continuing to count his gifts to 1000 -

870. a nana trip to costco
871. church with my parents
872. son playing and singing o holy night
873. my husband's backache that afforded us time together
874. chatting with my girl
875. baked goods, oh the baked goods!
876. visiting friends i haven't seen in too long

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, emily for tuesdays unwrapped,

joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jen for soli deo gloria shanda for on your heart tuesdays, emily for imperfect prose and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

on the way home....and i am undone

there was a wreck and i was near
and
i held the living girl in my arms
while she desperate-called
for her
sister-who-didn't-make-it
and
i rocked this nine-year-old
under a pooh quilt
while her mom cried out for help help help
and
i
am
undone
and never ever ever ever
want to send my child out in a car
again
but tomorrow the sun is going to rise
i
know
this
and i am undone with wondering why
lord, will you peace-be-still
the red-car mom and sister tonight?

with lisa-jo tonight....