Thankful Thursday: Winter Light

Sometimes blogging silence means inactivity, as thoughts and words and actions slow to flow like tar. Other times, blogging silence belies activity as life lived takes precedence over life recorded.

While the former has frequently been true of my own winter silences, this year it is the latter that is most true.

For this year, this winter has been my BRIGHTEST winter since I began blogging some dozen years ago.

This week I’m thankful…

…for Winter Blues and light therapy
After reading the section on light therapy in Norman Rosenthal’s Winter Blues, I purchased a therapy light and began using it. Light therapy has made a huge difference in my energy levels and quality of life even as the days grew shorter and shorter this fall. Thanks to light therapy, I’ve been able to maintain household routines, to continue to interact socially, and to experience wonder this winter.

…for baby smiles
Louis is the happiest baby. He smiles, he laughs, he smiles some more. He loves diaper changes, hugs, tummy time, and toys. He adores his big sister and laughs when she tickles him (even if she’s sitting on his belly while doing it.) He dotes upon his papa and gazes at him with unabashed admiration and joy when papa gets home from work. Even as I write this, Louis is playing his own form of peekaboo on the floor beside me, grinning every time I look over and cooing when I’m not looking to encourage me to look. His smile is a light that makes me shine too.

…for preparation for people
We had my family (an extra dozen people) over the weekend after Thanksgiving – and the preparations for their coming gave me the motivation to complete all sorts of projects I’d been procrastinating on. Making curtains for the picture window in the living room. Organizing my craft room. Unpacking the rest of those boxes in the basement and getting them put where they need to be. With the extra energy afforded by the lamp and the extra motivation afforded by the prospect of family coming, I got more done this winter than most – and productivity always brightens my day.

…for a toddler voice singing
I’ve been singing to Tirzah Mae since she was born, but she only rarely joins in. In fact, I don’t know that I’ve ever heard her join in. But this Advent she started singing all by herself. She’d cuddle her dolly and begin to sing:

“Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus
lay down his sweet head
The stars in the manger
look down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
asleep on the hay”

Not only this, but “Jingle Bells” and “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (just that one line) and “Frere Jacques” and at least a half dozen other songs with recognizable lyrics and tune.

Hearing her sing – and especially hearing her sing about Jesus – delights my heart and brightens my life.

…for Emmanuel
The song that Tirzah Mae sings the most, and the line she repeats most often, is this:

“Rejoice, Rejoice
E-ma-a-an-u-el
Shall come to thee
O I-i-is-ra-el

Of all the things that have brightened this winter, this is the most wonderful.

God with us. Emmanuel.

I am thankful that

“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

~Isaiah 9:2-7 (ESV)

God has made Himself to shine before us in the person of Jesus Christ.

That is reason to give thanks. That is reason to rejoice.

So I do and so I shall.

“Rejoice, rejoice –
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”