Christmas--the first in my "Iona House"--was different than I anticipated. If not for the candlelight portion of the previous Sunday service at my church, I would feel as if a large part went missing. Usually we attend such a service on Christmas Eve. This year, we didn't. Yet that night, when my daughter and I were both exhausted by the previous day of baking cookies with the little ones, I was glad to subtract it from the schedule.
What happened instead (the very thing I wanted to avoid) was that our family time was focused mainly on opening gifts.
It was better this year, but still not the simple and peaceful "Iona" version I longed for.
We read a portion of the Christmas story before we opened gifts. I should have previously found the children's book I know I have somewhere. At least it would have had images for them to look at. (Add to checklist for next year.)
We ended with the main gift I wanted to give to each of the families--a $50 bill and declaration of JUBILEE for each. To me, this is symbolic of restoration for all and even a seed for my own restoration.
But I don't want a restoration to what was. I want a restoration of God's original design--for all of us!
