Advent Visio III

A snowman and glitter. Why he's in a doorway I don't know. But this little ornament is one of my most treasured. My cousin, now 35, made this when he was little and gave it to my family. We've hung it on our tree as long as I can remember.

Each year when I hang it I remember. I remember I have a brother, even though I am an only child. I remember the goofy Barbie versus the Ninja Turtle fights. I remember our last conversation where I felt seen and understood at a deep level, the level that only siblings know. And I am grateful.

This ornament reminds me that God provides. Even when I think I know what I need, God provides. And he didn't just fix a moment or a few rough years - he gave me a lifetime gift: a friend, a cousin, a brother. Even when life keeps us apart, our bond is still present and holding and comforting.

Today I am comforted by the depth of God's goodness and unconventional blessings, the kind I didn't even know to ask for.

• What ornament are you drawn to today?
• How does the ornament feel to you now as you consider it?
• Where does it take you? In your mind? In your heart?

As you're able, would you share with me here? I'd love to know where God is speaking to you this season.