December is always an extra special time of the year. This family of mine has had a long history of December special days besides Christmas. My photograph shows my parents on their wedding day. Dad was 20 and mom was 18. They were married on December 18th. I’m not sure how long they were married, but they remained together until my dad turned 62. Here is a list of special events that we also celebrate:

• Granddaughter, Kaeli, graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN on December 5th.
• My mother, Louise, spent her last few years in heaven. She would’ve celebrated her 103rd birthday on December 8th.
• Daughter, Joy, (our third child) celebrated her 53rd birthday on December 12th.
• My parents were married on December 18th.
• Granddaughter, Kaeli was born December 23 in time for Christmas.
• We honor the birth of our LORD with our songs of praise. The prophesies were beginning to be fulfilled. Traditionally we celebrate this birth on December 24 & 25.
• My brother-in-law, Bruce passed away on December 25, 2024, so thoughts are with his family. The following week, on New Years Day. my husband passed away. My sister and I spent Christmas & New Years day grieving. The healing continues, but we are confident of where they reside now.
• On December 29, My mother-in-law was born. She lived to be 86 years old.

As I look back over December and forward to the future year, I feel a variety of emotions. Life is full of them – some happy, some sad, some filled with hope and others when you simply need to be alone with God. Amongst all the celebrations, festivities, highs and lows, sickness and health, is our Father, God. He has laid out the days of our lives, peppered them with an assortment of ups and downs and promised to be with us even after death.

UNTETHERED YOUTH, by Kathy Boecher

What happened to days of untethered youth

When what was required depended on truth?

When worries were few and troubles unknown,

What happened from then to the life we have sown?

Our days filled with moments carefree and fun,

Quickly we find nothing under the sun,

Will satisfy fully or give us peace,

We watch as our hope and joy now decrease.

Time passes in torrents. In storms it flies.

Our laughter is mourned, replaced by our cries, 

Our tears flow like rivers, our moans scorch the air,

Hearts might give up and give way to despair.

We come to our God with bruises and scars,

Of bludgeoning wounds which surpass the stars.

It’s then God completes the work that He’s done.

Our youth will return and the victory is won.

We come to Him broken, clinging to life,

We come when we falter and can’t bear the strife.

We surrender to God who knows what is best.

With Him in our place, we pass every test.

He gives us new life as we grow old,

Our time weathered bodies to Him unfold,

To perfectly formed and beautifully made,

He bathed me with blood the ransom is paid.

New life will come quickly. The old passes by,

We become brand new on the day that we die,

Breath comes from heaven and God’s only Son,

Old bodies renewed, His work is now done.