Yuletide: Glad and Sad Tidings
Posted: Monday, December 19, 2011
by Avis Ward
GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people. (Luke 2:10, Darby Bible Translation)
‘Tis the season to be jolly but truth is, not everyone is jolly. This is a beautiful time of year in neighborhoods, commercial and government buildings, and city streets across the globe. Not every heart matches the festival of decorations displayed. And that’s okay, if you are functioning within what is determined normal for you.
The world received “glad tidings” of a miraculous birth. On December 19, 1979, our family received “sad tidings” of a wife and mother’s “turn for the worse;” and was told to get back to the hospital as quickly as possible. I remember it as if it were last night.
The seemingly deafening ring of the phone shattered the restful sleep we all had managed to get since Thanksgiving. We left Mother in the Intensive Care Unit, resting comfortably. This was the first time no one had been there since she was admitted.
Everyone sprung into action, getting dressed to speed back to the hospital. Daddy drove with the emergency blinkers on as we sped through red traffic lights, with caution. Arriving safely at the hospital, he parked and we ran inside, taking the elevator to her floor. Her doctor and nurse were there and our family did not receive glad tidings:
For to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11, Darby Bible Translation)
Our news was sad, heart-wrenching:
"It is with deepest sympathy and regret to tell you, Mrs. Ward did not make it through recovery. She passed away comfortably in her sleep ten minutes ago."
As I write this, I am not sad. If I were, I would follow-through with my emotions. And that is what you must do. We should live by faith not our emotions but they are there for us to express ourselves and assist in having a healthy life. Emotional stability is pertinent to the life of every human being, Christians included.
So I say to you, when and if you ever feel like crying because of loss, unfavorable circumstances, physical pain, and hardships, do it. Be sure to strike a healthy balance using the Word of God. Do not give Satan any advantage. You can rest assured any advantage the enemy can take, will be taken.
Gird yourselves with the Truth of God’s Word about your situation. Our mother was a God-fearing woman. The pain of her demise was far too much for me. I was a young woman feeling pain from the loss of her mother. A mother, who had taught her about the glad tidings announced about our Savior’s birth.
On the ride home, I was weeping inconsolably with my head on my oldest sister’s lap. And now, I weep again. There is sadness now as I allow tears to flow down my cheeks. They are cleansing and healing tears.
Our Father is with us and will help us through any situation if we but allow Him. I remember those early morning hours on the ride home. The pain in my heart had to stop and I asked for His help. The sad tidings received from the hospital staff were replaced with glad tidings from my Heavenly Father. I knew without a doubt my mother believed on Jesus Christ, whom she served. My heart received this glad tiding:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, King James Bible, Cambridge Edition)
The tears stopped as they now have. My heart rejoiced as it now does! Take all of your worries and cares to the Garden of Prayer and leave them with the Master Gardener! I leave you with these glad tidings to replace with sad tidings when you know you should move on.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. (Isaiah 61:3, New Living Translation, 2007)
May you find comfort and joy in Christ, the King! A blessed Christmas to you and yours!
©2011 Avis Ward, Providential Coaching, LLC
‘Tis the season to be jolly but truth is, not everyone is jolly. This is a beautiful time of year in neighborhoods, commercial and government buildings, and city streets across the globe. Not every heart matches the festival of decorations displayed. And that’s okay, if you are functioning within what is determined normal for you.
The seemingly deafening ring of the phone shattered the restful sleep we all had managed to get since Thanksgiving. We left Mother in the Intensive Care Unit, resting comfortably. This was the first time no one had been there since she was admitted.
Everyone sprung into action, getting dressed to speed back to the hospital. Daddy drove with the emergency blinkers on as we sped through red traffic lights, with caution. Arriving safely at the hospital, he parked and we ran inside, taking the elevator to her floor. Her doctor and nurse were there and our family did not receive glad tidings:
For to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11, Darby Bible Translation)
Our news was sad, heart-wrenching:
"It is with deepest sympathy and regret to tell you, Mrs. Ward did not make it through recovery. She passed away comfortably in her sleep ten minutes ago."
As I write this, I am not sad. If I were, I would follow-through with my emotions. And that is what you must do. We should live by faith not our emotions but they are there for us to express ourselves and assist in having a healthy life. Emotional stability is pertinent to the life of every human being, Christians included.
So I say to you, when and if you ever feel like crying because of loss, unfavorable circumstances, physical pain, and hardships, do it. Be sure to strike a healthy balance using the Word of God. Do not give Satan any advantage. You can rest assured any advantage the enemy can take, will be taken.
Gird yourselves with the Truth of God’s Word about your situation. Our mother was a God-fearing woman. The pain of her demise was far too much for me. I was a young woman feeling pain from the loss of her mother. A mother, who had taught her about the glad tidings announced about our Savior’s birth.
On the ride home, I was weeping inconsolably with my head on my oldest sister’s lap. And now, I weep again. There is sadness now as I allow tears to flow down my cheeks. They are cleansing and healing tears.
Our Father is with us and will help us through any situation if we but allow Him. I remember those early morning hours on the ride home. The pain in my heart had to stop and I asked for His help. The sad tidings received from the hospital staff were replaced with glad tidings from my Heavenly Father. I knew without a doubt my mother believed on Jesus Christ, whom she served. My heart received this glad tiding:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, King James Bible, Cambridge Edition)
The tears stopped as they now have. My heart rejoiced as it now does! Take all of your worries and cares to the Garden of Prayer and leave them with the Master Gardener! I leave you with these glad tidings to replace with sad tidings when you know you should move on.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. (Isaiah 61:3, New Living Translation, 2007)
May you find comfort and joy in Christ, the King! A blessed Christmas to you and yours!
©2011 Avis Ward, Providential Coaching, LLC
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Thank you, I really needed that today. As always you are a true blessing to me. I love you dearly my sister. Merry Christmas.
~Lyrical Heart~You make my heart sing, dear sister. Thank you! I'm blessed our lives collided. So like Abba Father, isn't it? Divine connections are true blessings. I'm honored to have been used to nourish your spiritual needs in some way today. God is glorified! I love you, my royal sister. Merry Christmas and thanks for everything! *hugs with love*
You are a beautiful writer - I was thankful to read this piece even though it brought a sad time in your life to light it also showed the hope you have that is beyond life and death and traveling through to eternity. I am headed into radiation for my breast cancer which was removed, leaving 40 inches of incisions - our Lord has been with me and Mick in a most incredible way. My first book is about to be published and that is something to keep me from living in the radiation mode. I am joyful knowing that I met Him and when it is His timing I will step from time into eternity and into His open arms.
I am so thankful your mother taught you about the BEST gift (salvation) and it is ironic that I taught my mother about the same gift after being led to our Lord out of 9 years of atheism - who taught me? My younger sister... we can both be thankful that we saw and acted upon the BEST news!
Love you my friend!
MarijoThank you, Marijo, my beautiful friend. You are the personification of His charge to us, wait on the Lord, and with courage. I love the parallels and contrasts of our Salvation story.
I'm thankful you have Mick and above all, you know a Savior who is a healer. Congrats on your first book, Marijo! I'm grateful you have that as you go through your course of treatment.
Your post filled me with such joy and hope! Thank you with a heart filled with love.
Love,
AvisAnd the editor and publisher I am working with, well, I suspect you know they are just the greatest!!! You cannot get a better or more Godly team that Teresa and Ken!
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