A Norvell Note for December 20, 2021

Vol. 24 No. 50

Endure

The anticipation for Christmas begins months before December 25. For some, the anticipation for next Christmas starts on December 25 as soon the gifts are opened. The roller coaster of emotion surrounding Christmas begins, builds, becomes more intense until it peaks on Christmas morning, and within a few minutes, it’s over. 

Even under ideal circumstances, the Christmas season could be a template for life. 

We have a dream. The dream begins to grow. With the passing of each milestone, the anticipation builds. It is like a low section on the roller coaster track when you fail to reach a goal. In these challenging times, it is easy to get discouraged and depressed. However, it’s the belief that better times, and better things, will come that keeps us going through the low times when progress is slow. 

Some might say these cycles of ups and downs make life exciting. Others might prefer that life move along on a more consistent and even keel. I’ve not known life to be such a smooth journey.

So how do we manage it? How do we navigate the ups and downs and the ins and outs as we look forward to the day when dreams come true? And what do we do when we realize the downturn will not go back up? What do you do when you realize the plan will not work and the prayer will be unanswered? 

I wish I could offer the perfect after-Christmas end-of-the-year sure-fire plan of action to adopt as a New Year’s resolution, but I can’t. So all I can offer is to say persevere. 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5, NIV)

Persevere. 

So much of life involves the process of endurance. They are enduring another day alone and enduring another night without goodnight hugs. You much survive another holiday with an empty place at the table. You are enduring the pain, the heartbreak, and the emptiness. You must endure the sadness and the loneliness. 

You when endure all you can, and you get to the end of your day and say, “I did it.” Let that be enough. Rest well, knowing you have done the best you can. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2021 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.  

A Norvell Note for December 20, 2021

Vol. 24 No. 49

God Is With Us

‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and he shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God is with us”).’”

It was a simple pronouncement of only four words (or three in other translations). “God is with us.” But what powerful words they were. After centuries of confusion and questioning the silence, the angel from God that, “God is with us.” 

When the baby was born, assurance came to all the world that we are never alone. God is with us. God is always with us. 

No matter where we are or what we are doing, God is with us.

God was with us even before we were aware of our existence. (Psalm 139)

When life is going well, God is with us. 

When we are confused and questioning the silence of God, He is with us. 

When we struggle to find focus and direction, God is with us. 

May I encourage you to take these four words and make them personal? These words are not a one-time announcement of the arrival of the King for the world. God gave us you, me, all of us. 

These words are to comfort you when your heart is breaking. The phrase, God is with us, provides strength to walk through the dark valley of death. The words calm us when it appears that our world is crumbling around us. These are the words that help us get out of bed in the morning when we’d prefer to pull the covers over our heads because we are too sad and depressed to put our feet on the floor. 

These are words not just for this season but also for every season. So, as you go through this week, the highs and lows, make sure these four words are a regular part of your conversation. Make them a consistent part of your mediation and reflections. 

God is with us. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2021 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.  

A Norvell Note for December 13, 2021

Vol. 24 No. 48

December 10, 2021

On September 10, we said goodbye to Norah Lee. She was seven years old. That was three months ago. 

On December 10 in 1964, we said goodbye and buried my mother. She was forty-four years old. That was fifty-seven years ago. 

I realized a long time ago that my emotions take a nosedive every year just before or on December 8. So if I’m thinking clearly, I will remember it’s coming and prepare as much as possible to feel a little blue, some years very low-spirited, and experience some level of depression. 

This year was no different. I kept an eye on the calendar. The emotions came as expected, and then came Friday the 10^th. Memories flooded my soul—images of my childhood and those of my granddaughter. 

I was sinking lower and lower until I thought about them being in heaven. Of course, I do not claim to know what heaven is or is not like, but I saw them sitting together on a bench by a peaceful stream in my imagination. Norah looked up at my mother, and my mother looked down at her. They were holding hands and smiling. 

I found peace as I sat quietly with those thoughts. 

I take comfort in these words. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2021 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.