Bless all the dear children...and take us to heaven to live with Thee there

I do love the symbolism of Middle Ages Art...stories within stories - rich and deep with meaning as they are in saturated colors. This has always been one of my favorites:

The Adoration of the Magi

Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi, 1440 -- 1460, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

I know, for sure, in Gwen's short, little life, she heard a peacock. I had never heard one before. Of course, I've seen them before - but one day with Gwen, we both shared something new. While at the zoo with Lil and my tiny Gwen (safe and snug in the baby wrap) out came a peacock and opened his mouth and shouted an awful sound. The bird, truthfully is, like so many birds, when you really pay attention, honestly an astonishing feast for the eyes. But as for acoustics, well, it leaves quite a irony of characteristics. In any event, Gwen, for sure, heard a peacock in her lifetime.

Peacocks once stood as a symbol for Christ and His promise of Forever - of healing of the broken world. I'll take this symbol of old, as a reminder of all that Christmas means...that although we live in the sad part of the story now (all of us do - Gwen and all our losses this year only cause us to live it more acutely now), that because of the Good thing that happened by and through a loving God, separation is not forever. I'll remember a peacock spoke to us (shouted?) and perhaps that is no small thing, and I'll try to know and Believe all is well, Ultimately, as I reflect on the what the peacock stood for in paintings such as this.

And even so, we miss our little one, and our sister and our brother - and even so - here, we are okay, but lonely for each one, and that is just how it is, loneliness now, here for those we loved. Our heart still searches for and wonders why our eyes haven't laid eyes on them in so long. Yet, sadness can be carried and you can tug it all along, and we do...that's what we do now. That is the "new normal", for us, if you are wondering. But don't get me wrong, we carry them all with Love.

-----

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.



Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
---
(thank you to Sawyer's mommy for the lovely idea of posting this Christmas song on her blog with the particular picture she choose as she misses her little Sawyer... I was inspired even as I thought I might just stay quiet for Christmastime. Love to Michelle and all the "BLM's" out there...)