The Dayspring 
By Debbie Ott
"Through the tender mercy of our
God; whereby the dayspring from
on high hath visited us, to give light
to them that sit in darkness and sit
the shadow of death, and to guide
our feet into the way of peace."
Luke 1:78-79
icking the blankets from around her feet she tossed and turned as she'd been doing night after sleepless night. She was exhausted; depression had plagued her for almost a year since the passing of her husband. His sudden death had shouldered her with the responsibilities of raising the children, maintaining their home, providing for their basic needs and helping the children cope with the loss of their daddy. Through the blur if it all, numbness and grief kept her from addressing the pain and loneliness that kept her awake every night.
Christmas Eve had been the night before, and she and the children had spent it with their family. She'd gone thru the holiday traditions and engaged in the fellowship but none of that penetrated the heartache within. She felt only pain and emptiness. Now she was dreading Christmas morning, she hoped she'd find something within her to impart to her children a genuine spirit of joy.
"Why can't I get past this?", she agonized. "Lord, where are you? I need you. Why can't I feel you or see you anymore?"
She recalled Christmas Eve one year ago and she pushed her face into her pillow to absorb the flow of tears. She remembered the challenge to get the children down for the night so the two of them could share a bit of Christmas alone. She thought about that small gift, with childlike anticipation she had ripped off the bow and the gold paper. Pulling it out of the box and placing it into her hand she held the clear glass prism attached to the red satin ribbon. He'd known she loved the simple things, her smile and her eyes reflected the same shimmer of light that was captured in her palm. The next morning he had found a hook above the east window in the den and carefully hung it there, and the kids squealed at the rainbow it made across the room. If only she had known that would be the last Christmas they'd have together ...
There was no point in trying to sleep any longer. She kicked her feet over the side of the bed, yawned, and took a deep breath. Pushing back the curtain, she could see across the silhouette of the corn stubble as the morning sun was beginning to show itself. Finding her slippers, she wandered towards the kitchen for coffee. With her cup full, she turned towards the den and as she rounded the corner she stopped, startled. Her children were awake huddled together, around the wooden corner table, hushed and subdued.
Her four year old was the first to turn. "Mom, look!" she said in a whisper, "Come see!". The other children moved slightly. There on the table was the nativity scene, exactly the same as it had been since the day they'd carefully unpacked each ceramic piece and placed them in their appropriate positions. Moving closer, her heart jumped as she saw what had attracted her children to this spot so early. In the dimness of early morning the Centerpiece glowed with a surreal light, so amazingly brilliant that everything else in the room was overshadowed. None of them said a word, as if to speak the miracle would vanish or disappear. Waves of light danced as if proclaiming "Glory to God in the Highest!".
"Glory to God in the Highest!" Her heart leapt! The Christ-child was sent, into the darkness, to be the Light of the World! To bring Glory to God! For the first time in months she felt that same Light within, penetrating her own darkness, reassuring her of His presence and restoring the joy she needed.
Another shimmer of light caught the corner of her eye and she turned towards the window where beyond the sun was nearly at her fullest. Twinkling in the window by a red satin ribbon was the prism. The prism had caught the dawning morning light and cast it upon the baby Jesus, the One whom came to be the promise of God's eternal presence. Tears flowed down her face and she knelt by the manger and embraced her children, each of them in their hearts marveling at the Light of the World.
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and sit the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79
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