Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Saturday, December 16
By Katie Heatherly
Fall On Your Knees
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
As a child, I loved Christmas. Of course I did … don’t most children love Christmas? As an adult, I love Christmas still, but for a very different reason.
In December 2013, I was spending my second childless Christmas with my husband. We had been praying desperately for a child, and we had just experienced the devastating loss with a failed round of in-vitro. I can remember vividly listening to the words of O Holy Night:
“Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices! Oh night divine, O night when Christ was born!”
I was already on my knees. I was so heartbroken. I didn’t want to celebrate anything! I wanted to close my eyes and ears! Lord, how can I celebrate a baby!? In my anguish, I tried to understand. Lord, please lead me. Lord, please help me to understand!
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”
I have since spent one Christmas with the joy of pregnancy and many, many others with the pain and sorrow of infertility. I love Christmas now because this season has taught me where to place my grief, where to leave my burden, and to whom I fall on my knees and celebrate.
Prayer
Oh Night Divine, we come to you and lay our burdens down, offering thanksgiving for the mercy and comfort you offer us at all times. Amen.
