Strength To Believe

I want to share something with you this Christmas. Something that was given to me long ago by a woman I barely knew. Think of it as a cyber “white elephant” Not the usual kind that makes everyone laugh when the paper comes off, but the rare one, the good one, the one that makes people set up and take notice. The kind that people want to “steal” because it’s so good. You know the one that has you questioning why anyone would give it away.

I received a book years ago when my son was first born as a baby gift. It has followed us on countless moves, and I have read it many times over the years. To say that it has greatly affected me is an understatement. I have thought about the words in this book many times. I have wrestled with its truths- written so simply that a child can understand them, yet so profound that after 18 years I am still pondering them in my heart. I have wondered what the world would look like if we all knew the truths and believed in them. The book is entitled The 12 Gifts of Birth by Charlene Costanzo. Each day I would like to share a little piece of this book with you. One gift to be opened and pondered together. Think of it as a gift from our family to yours. So grab your cup of coffee, or tea, or whatever makes you feel all warm and cozy and let’s snuggle down for some pondering.

“At the wondrous moment when you were born, as you took your first breath, a great celebration was held in the heavens and twelve magnificent gifts were granted to you: The first gift is strength. May you remember to call upon it whenever you need it.”

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you receive Strength. Strength to keep going, to keep looking and searching for answers even when things get hard. Strength to never lose hope, even when you feel pressed to the point of giving up-of throwing in the towel. Strength for your marriage, your family, your finances-whatever feels weak at this moment. May you remember that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world- 1 John 4:4. That the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you-Romans 8:11.” I pray you receive strength to fight your own doubts that war within you. The doubts that say “you’ll never be enough, things will never get better, quite hoping, just accept defeat.” May you remember that with Jesus, what is right about you is more powerful than anything that is wrong with you. He fights for you, bled and died for you because he loves you. You’re worth it to him. He is interceding for you, even now, at the right hand of the father. May you find the strength to believe.