Advent free write #1

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My son and I went and saw a man today who fell off his ladder 8 weeks ago and broke his foot. We brought him food and eye contact, a listening ear and human embrace. His inner SE apartment had that old welcoming smell of spice and old wood floors where stories lived. He told me stories of his past and beamed with joy when he talked about his 5 year old daughter.

Just 4 years ago, I remember sitting in the back row of our church with my newly born first son, and this man with the kindest eyes welled up with tears when he held my son. I teared up too, feeling a bit of his loneliness. The lines in his face held too many broken memories but his eyes held hope.

He told me today that's its taken him a long time to be able to accept that the Father delights in him. Delights in him. That these past 8 weeks have been a gift , all glory to Him. This time, my eyes welled up with tears while he told me with a voice a kin to Bill Nighy, why they've been a gift. We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. And I was thankful that I came. Because his presence was a gift too. And the hope that doesn't put him to shame was offered yet again to me, and I'm thankful that God has created me and you to receive that gift with anticipation, suffering and longing , and hope . 

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