Welcoming 2011

Tomorrow marks the end of yet another year. Lots has happened in all of our lives. We’ve had our share of losses but we’ve also had great joys! We’ve watched people stuggle and we’ve watched people make great strides. The story that gives me more hope than any other is one about a small, sweet little 4 year old girl. She entered into the life of my family a few short months ago as the foster daughter of my brother’s family. I’ll call her Julie for the moment but won’t use her real name for her protection.

Julie is the sweetest little thing but when she first entered my brother’s world she was a child who had been mistreated and was hungry much of the time. It took her some time to understand that she didn’t have to rush meals and that there would always be food available for her. She just longed for a family where she could be loved, cared for and where she could feel secure. Julie had never had a Christmas tree until this year let alone Christmas presents. Her little face just lit up as she opened up Barbie dolls, books, socks and more with the family.
Some people would say that her new family has been a blessing to her but I would say that she has been a blessing to us. We have a new family member to love and Courtney says that Julie is her new ‘bestest cousin ever’! The best part of this story is that it looks like she will be released for adoption very soon and that means that she will become a permanent member of our family! What a celebration that will be!

Christmas, of course, is a time that we remember Jesus making His entrance into the world. He came to show us what it means to truly love each other. Just as we have encircled little Julie into our family and we call her “ours”, Jesus does that for us. He welcomes us and loves us, gives to us all that we need and best of all He calls us His. Let us carry that forward into 2011.