Hello friends,
I’ve sometimes considered expanding this newsletter to include a monthly series entitled “Dumb Hills to Die On.” It would feature something that I have strong opinions on, that isn’t worth having strong opinions on; things like “Baseball is Better When the Players Wear Their Socks Properly (ie knee socks)”; “If You Have Inflatables in Your Yard, You Should Never Turn Them Off Because They Look Like You Have Trash Laying in Your Yard When They Are Flat”; or “Rocky Beaches are Superior to Sandy Beaches.”
My seasonal Dumb Hill to Die On would be to have everyone please stop berating the song “Mary, Did You Know?” Here is the outline:
You are correct, Mary did know. The Biblical account in Luke 2 shows us that Mary knew her Scriptures well and recalled prophecy about her son, the Messiah.
Sometimes writers use literary devices — such as asking rhetorical questions — in order to spur a listener toward wonder and to make people pause. In fact, this is the main job of poets and songwriters. There are many examples of this in the Bible itself.
We’re tired of this argument.
There. Now I don’t have to write that one.
The Part Where There’s an Essay: Just Another Day
Especially for my mom readers — here's a repost from 2011. The holidays are upon us again: the time of year when we are most at risk for unrealistic expectations. It's handy to remember at this time that Jesus Christ died for sinners like us -- in fact, that is the reason we celebrate.
"The real difficulty, the supreme mystery with which the gospel confronts us, does not lie in the Good Friday message of atonement, nor in the Easter message of resurrection, but in the Christmas message of Incarnation." - JI Packer
Here we are, three days from the most hyped day of the year. Our home-like many homes across America I’m sure — is crammed with wrapped packages and sweets. The tree is decorated, the nativity scene set up, and the outside of our home glows each night with white lights. The anticipation is palpable as each morning we rehearse how many days, and this morning, how many hours, until Christmas.
As one of my friends properly observed, this week is like finals week for moms. I’ve been up until midnight every night this week so far, wrapping gifts, addressing cards, and cleaning up from yet another baking adventure. The laundry still has to be done. The house seems to get dirty faster because the kids are idle, not confined to their schoolwork.
As a result, a lot of expectations rest on the Christmas day payoff. The culmination of all this effort is confined to a few blissful hours. So it is easy, as a mom of littles, to be disappointed. I found myself frustrated a few years ago when I was exhausted and the kids started fighting on Christmas morning. Somebody didn’t like the special breakfast I made. A diaper needed to be changed right in the middle of opening gifts.
I realized that year that it’s best to keep the expectations low. Yes, it’s Christmas and yes, it’s special to celebrate with little kids. But goodness knows we are all still sinful human beings. Someone is going to cry. One of the kids will make some sort of ungrateful comment about a gift you thought they’d really like. We’re all still learning. It’s Jesus’ coming to Earth, the very reason we celebrate, that redeems all the ugliness.
So breathe through it, moms. Your high expectations will only make you and your family miserable. Enjoy and be grateful. Even though it comes just once a year, it’s just another day.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.— Hebrews 13:15
For the Anglophiles
(expanding the definition of “anglophile” for this week to include the broader British Isles.)
Pastor, Rabbit Room poet, and speaker Andrew Roycroft is taking part in the “Prayer for the Day” on BBC4. You might enjoy hearing his lilting Northern Irish accent as he leads you through an Advent reflection and prayer. (When you look at the dates on the website, dear American reader, please remember that the format in the UK is dd/mm/yy.)
Reads & Listens of the Week
Here’s a nice book list from Karen Swallow Prior, featuring titles on faith and art. “…art isn’t, for the Christian, an option or a luxury. Beauty and art reflect the nature of God, and the nature of all human beings who are made in his image. Thus beauty and art must have a place in any robust, complete Christian theology.”
Andrew Peterson was making the interview rounds recently because his new animated series finally dropped last week! We love The Wingfeather Saga book series, and the animated version is going to be so sweet. Listen to an interview with Andrew here.
News broke this week that Flannery O’Connor’s last, unfinished novel will be published in spring 2024.
This is another beautiful entry in the To the Shire substack: Between the Times. “What is the role that memory plays for Denethor? It tricks him into thinking that the best of his life is behind him, and that perhaps he was responsible for those good things he enjoyed.”
He was born in poverty and died in disgrace, and thought it was worthwhile. - Dorothy Sayers, Christian Letters to a Post-Christian World
I look forward to your comments each week!! There is some humor, thoughtful reflections, and inspiration from others. In the midst of your busy family, thanks for taking time to share your thoughts😍