the gift of grace

Dear Jesus,

Today, I keep thinking about your lineage. You in the small details.

I am reading Ann Voskamp’s “The Greatest Gift” advent devotional, and this is what she said on Day 6: “Like an old woman who cradles the unexpected, who cradles grace, who looks into the impossible made possible and laughs with the miraculous because that is what the relieved and re-livers do: ‘God has brought me laughter.’ You can almost see it – her wrinkles and weariness waning away, her lips cradling with laughter.”

Though Ann is speaking of Sarah holding Isaac, as Daniel read this out loud to me, I only thought of you being held by Anna in the temple in the early days of your arrival. Maybe only Simeon held you as Scripture doesn’t specifically say she did. You were the gift of grace Anna had waited her whole life to see. Anna whose name means “grace” saw and possibly held the gift of grace – you. Oh, you are detailed. Her wrinkles and weary waiting waned, and she told all she saw “the promised King to come and deliver Jerusalem.”

Then I remembered that you are a descendent of Ruth. Her mother in law was Naomi, and when she married Boaz, she gave Obed to Naomi to be cared for as her own child. Naomi was once called bitter but because of a kinsman redeemer, she and Ruth were saved. She had lost her two sons and her husband and had no one left. I always sorta disliked the part where Obed was given to Naomi to raise. Didn’t Ruth want a child? But, now as I see it through the grace, how beautiful it is to think about. A woman who has lost everything receives hope, just like Mary did with you. Obed would be the father of Jesse who was the father of David, and of course, David was your great, great, great, great, plus grandfather. Again, “wrinkles and weariness waned.”

I almost forgot Elizabeth who modeled Sarah too, as she was barren and had a baby in her older age. Her baby leaped in her womb when Mary visited her before you were born. She too: wrinkles and weariness waned.

Four old ladies holding babies and laughing. All part of your story, but all foreshadowing your story too. How many more details can I find this advent? I can’t wait to find out.

May I be an old woman someday whose wrinkles and weariness wane. May I seek laughter more in my days, and though generally not the funniest person, may I bring more laughter in the lives of those around me from the sheer joy and presence of you in my life.

joyfully laughing and marveling the details of you,

Jamie