“Through the many winters, Your touch brings me comfort
Your song lifts me up and carries me to Spring…
Through all the tears to come, All my many trials
Till the end of my longest night, I will search for you…”
~ Michael McDonald, Through the Many Winters
Have you ever seen the snow fall in the moonlight?
It falls tenderly, fine like the whispers of a newborn’s eyelashes, curling ever so gently as she dreams.
It cascades down through a clear winter night sky, floating, like the last autumn leaf carried down from yesterday’s rainfall.
I was bundled warm, making my steps slowly outside, enveloped by the safety of the mountains in a canyon.
It was so still.
And so dark.
And yet the moon shone so bright.
The trees all beautifully bare stretched their arms up, like a child reaching out to catch snow fall.
As I paused along the trail, I looked up at the stars dotting the horizon, I could hear the trickle of a creek echoing down below.
It was a perfect night.
I was young then and yet, I understood what it meant to feel lonely.
Alone.
Everything Beautiful and Quiet
Something about that moment, surrounded by everything beautiful and quiet, spoke to me.
I found my voice crying.
Because beauty reminded me I wanted comfort.
I needed peace.
I wanted to be held.
I was tired.
I desperately wanted to rest.
But, I cried bitterly not knowing how. I wondered where God was in all this, and I felt so small and lost.
As I looked up at the stars through the blur of tears, they seemed to shimmer, dancing like water sparkling over pebbles running in the creek early spring.
Somewhere in my burning heart, that first star of Christmas that the wise men glimpsed one night and followed for oh-so-long — across so many deserts — moved in me that lonely night.
That Traveling Star
I thought about that traveling star.
How bright it spoke.
How that light brought them comfort.
How that light carried them one night at a time. One hour at a time.
Until it brought them to Jesus.
Until it brought the search for hope to end in joy.
All the many trials, found along their search, yet the wise men did not stop.
Through Our Many Winters
Through our many winters, God will never stop carrying us on our journeys.
We can keep following.
As dark as the night gets, God’s light will never disappear.
Even when our courage and strength fails us, God will give us the grace — even if just for a moment — to search for the light.
And He’ll give us more grace to follow where it leads us, no matter where life’s journeys take us.
Because one night, thousands of years ago, before you and I were born, Jesus knew we would need Someone, to help us make it through the night.
Jesus stepped into the darkness, to live every day and every night we have cherished and feared to embrace.
Jesus lived the hard life every day with purpose.
Because He wanted to become the Light that would make His home in us.
Forever and always.
A Sign
In the darkest of nights, God placed a star in the sky.
This star was a sign.
That I can keep journeying no matter how far I needed to travel.
Because Jesus is with me.
Jesus is my light.
As we journey into the last few days before Christmas, you may find yourself wondering what the new year holds for you. Your loved ones. Your friends. Or your dreams.
Find some alone time. For quiet. Journal some words. Read the Christmas Story when the lights have been turned down low. Enter a different space listening to music with the Christmas tree lit after everyone has gone to bed.
Give yourself permission to steal a moment to be alone with God.
Reflect on the signs God has placed on your path.
And if the aloneness feels too hopeless like it did for me, dare to let someone in. Call someone. Tell them your story. Dare to be vulnerable. Even at Christmas.
Everyone, after all is in the middle of a journey. Everyone wants someone to come alongside them in the waiting, searching for God’s light in new ways. Jesus Himself chose to take the long journey home from a manger to a cross, so we don’t have to travel alone anymore today.
God’s Winter Song
Let beauty remind you.
We all need comfort.
We all long for peace.
You were made to be loved.
You were made to be held.
You were never made to be alone.
You were made to find rest.
Put on a warm coat. Wrap a scarf around yourself, slip your hands in some gloves, and quietly put on your hat. Step outside, if just for a moment.
Look up as you watch your breath warm the winter air.
See the stars.
And listen.
Like snow falling through winter, hear God’s winter song echoing —
I came for you then.
I’m here for you now.
You don’t have to be alone anymore.
In the moonlight.
I see you.
I am with you.
I love you.
You can have peace, hope, joy and love with me.
Hear God’s winter song in you.
You are His.
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How is God using beauty to touch your heart this Christmas?
How are you following the Star God’s placed on your journey of faith?
Pull up a chair. Pause for a moment. Share your voice here. Click to comment.
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Written by Bonnie Gray, the Faith Barista, serving up shots of faith for everyday life.
{ For soulful encouragement on the journey of faith, join me at Faith Barista.
Swap some stories as they’re being lived. Β As is. }
Oh Bonnie,
I felt so beautifully touched by your words. This christmas is a christmas of changes to me. But I’m satisfied. Really.
As I read your words, I felt a bit more cozy and I enjoy this winter time a bit more. And knowing about God’s great and never ending love is a big present to me. Over and over again. And maybe…this is the first christmas I feel it so deep!
Thanks for your words. For the song that touched me gently.
Be blessed,
Rosie
Merry Christmas, Rosie. Thanks for taking time to share. Your words touch my heart.
Thanks for the words, so beautifully written.
Merry Christmas, Jedidja. So nice you’re here.
Thank you for this beautiful post.
I am up early because so many thoughts swirling steal my rest.
I am reminded that Jesus is the Savior, not me.
Debbie
Merry Christmas, Debbie. May the day end with His thoughts swirling to meet you tonight with rest, dear friend.
It’s amazing to me that every step of my journey it brings me to ur words of such joy. Jesus surely uses u to bring such truth in a way to bring light to our paths.
May ur Christmas and all ur readers be able to see the light in their journey to whole ness in Him.
Thank you, KK. Your words are sweet as your heart is. Merry Christmas, friend.
Tears are streaming down my face. Thank you for the reminder to keep looking up. Today I woke up to the raging storm. But I am now finding comfort in Jesus. Thank you for this !
What beautiful tears. Let’s look up together and hear His winter song. Merry Christmas, Danyalle.
Bonnie,
I so needed to read this! Thank you for sharing… God bless and Merry Christmas…
God bless you too. Rae. and Merry, merry Christmas across the miles to you…
I have never felt a snowdrop fall in the night but this Christmas I felt the touch of the little Christ Child’s hand. Like a snowdrop. The LORD is touching me this Christmas with a lot of peace and stillness and in the silence and peace and quietness of it all, JESUS is big time in my home and my heart and my husband and I are having such a joyful Christmas together. Alone together with JESUS. A blessing falling from above for us this Christmas.
Thank you, your winter song is lovely.
π
karyn, my heart smiles so warm and happy to hear what a peaceful and quiet Christmas that is filling you and your husband. May you drink in and swim in the blessing fall so abundantly on you this year. Savor it and take it all in, friend. All for you.
This is so beautiful! Speaks long and deep to my heart, soul and spirit. Thank you Bonnie.
Hope you have a soulful, spirit-touched, Merry Christmas, Kim.
Bonnie, your beautiful description brought so many images to my mind. The ‘light in the dark’ metaphor reminded me of our junior high school choir’s Christmas program back in the 70’s… we would wear white robes and carry a single battery-operated candle in our hands as we walked in procession into the historic auditorium. Our candles were the only light, and as we filled the aisles and moved onto the stage, the warmth of that light glowed and illuminated every corner of the huge room. As we walked, we sang ‘Silent Night’ in four-part harmony, acapella, to a hushed and captive audience. It was a profound experience for me..
That experience has inspired something that I have done nearly each year since: At or after midnight on Christmas Eve, I steal away outside to look up at the stars and softly sing ‘Silent Night’. Acapella, alone, in the darkness. It’s my own personal hymn offering to God, in thanks for His amazing gift to us on that first Christmas. When I close my eyes, I can still see the glow of those candles in the darkness… bringing the light of love to all it touched. Oh, how I wish I could find a Christmas Eve service with something similar!
Deb, thank you for taking time to share such a beautiful memory to light this space here this morning. It’s amazing how something so simple speaks so deeply to our soul and spirit. It’s beautiful worship — the special gift you give to God — your personal hymn. Merry Christmas and may those moments continue to feed your soul.
That was one of the most beautiful posts that I have ever read. Blissful! Thank you so much!
So sweet to share a soulful moment together this morning, Carmen. Merry Christmas friend!
Oh Bonnie……. I love you! π Soo raw and soo real…. thank you xoxo
Aw… Love you too, friend. π Merry Christmas, Melissa!
Thank you, Bonnie. It’s a hard Christmas for us at the end of a hard year. At the end of a series of hard years with no assurance next year will be easier. Thank you for the reminder that I have permission to steal a moment of beauty alone with God. Blessed Christmas to you!
Sweet tinuviel, it has been a long year for both of us. π Yes, may you steal a moment — hear His Winter Song for you — and hear my warmest, heartfelt Christmas wishes for you — from here in CA — to where you are. With wishes of rest and recovery for you, friend! xoxo
Your words helped to warm my heart to the real meaning behind Christmas -Christ. I seem to keep getting lost in the list of things left to do and the procrastination but your post has in a sense given me permission to procrastinate and focus on the Lord. The presents will be wrapped. They will be enjoyed and most of all love will fill the season because God -JESUS is not only a part of it but He is the REASON! I look at my makeshift nativity scene and I think to myself “if a manger was good enough for my Saviour then surely an unofficial nativity set on a hope chest is acceptable because I built it with my heart, my LOVE for Jesus and my gratitude for His birth and His resurrection.
Dear Marisa, thanks for sharing your reflection. May you feel the company of all of us who are wrapping presents alongside you — all of us hearing God’s winter song in our hearts. Merry Christmas, friend!
This message really resonates with me. I’m not completely in the dark, but I’m not fully walking in the Light either, but I want to. You remind me that God’s light faithfully shines – and we know it’s there even if we have our eyes shut tight for a moment.
I have tears running down my face. I know that God is with me even though I am going through tremendous pain. I know that some people wont understand this. My cat is missing. He was gone on Dec. 6th and I have done everything to find him. Posted on craigslist, facebook, put flyers door to door, made a report to animal control, checking all the shelters and still I have not been able to find him. He is not just a cat to me he is my baby. I treat all my pets as my family. This has shaken my faith somewhat. I know that God hears me but I have found no comfort, no answers. When am I going to feel or hear an answer? I will always look to God even if I cant see because of the tears.
Such poetic words. Truly a gift from God.
Thank you for writing so eloquently about something so simple. Following a star. Letting a little light into an otherwise dark world.
I need more light in my world now. It has become a little dark. Needing more happy & beauty to shine from within!
Thank you for your open honest writing.
Merry Christmas!
Your words touch the deepest part of me, I love poetry your poetry is amazing I have never given myself permission to be creative I am only really beginning to see myself how God sees me its been a long journey of peaks and being so low I never realised just how low one can get, its the worse place I have ever been, I have an understanding now where I just want to reach out and say NO its not the answer just reach out to Jesus scream out. My dear Mother passed away very recent and I never realised just how much I would miss her she is home with the Lord now, it has left a gaping hole inside I know that God wants me to get closer to Him i’m scared I keep running to everything else that I know is not going to do it, I am going to follow your wise words of stepping outside in the night or sitting alone with the lights on with a candle I am I will I’m not going to be afraid anymore……….God Bless You
Thank you for your beautiful words for your heart, they touch me deeply…
I know this is several weeks later, but I am just getting around to reading this Bonnie. I think it is the right winter day for me to read it. Oh I so identify with seeing beauty and beginning to cry wishing I could just have a bit of same things. I need the reminder of the the winter song from God… thank you dear friend.