Merry Christmas To All, And To Makaio A Goodnight.....

In my youth I remember the sleepless nights.....wondering if I would get the new racetrack or the trampoline I had been dreaming of for the past months.  The thought of Santa Claus coming down our chimney, eating our cookies, and leaving me with the greatest gifts was what I lived for.  My, how long ago that seems today, however I am not so far removed from those dreams and those emotions.

Today I found myself, waking as that same little boy.....with those same hopes and dreams.

Today I woke at 6:30 am to the sounds of my two precious nieces rustling through their stockings and figuring our what Santa had brought them for being good little girls this past year.  As innocent and wonderful as that moment was, I couldn't pull myself away from the fact that my first son, Makaio, would be waking a thousand miles away, outside of my reach and the embrace that my wife and I could only begin to dream of on this Christmas day.

I had spent every day since Thanksgiving preparing myself for this day.  I decided to embrace our process....decided to be thankful for the gifts God had given me and Jen in delivering us a son......decided to be thankful our son had a wonderful and loving foster mother taking care of him thousands of miles away.

I woke this morning with turmoil in my heart.  A selfishness I have never felt.  Knowing how special this day was to me, I would have given everything I have to hold my son on his first Christmas.  Would this pass?

As with any Christmas, the excitement of morning would turn into the cleanup of afternoon, which would give to the preparation of the traditional Christmas feast with family. (traditional Korean feast in my case.)  As these phases passed, my emotions slipped in and out of the happiness of spending time with my nieces, in-laws, my beautiful wife, and then to the sadness that I was not complete on this day without my Makaio.

Either by intuition or pure genius, my wife had decided to get me a new ipad for this Christmas.  I had been looking at them for months....trying to find a easier way to keep up with my blog when I was away from the office for an extended period of time....how perfect!

The very first App I downloaded when I fired up my new ipad on Christmas morning was the Holy Bible.  If you're anything like me, it sure doesn't take much time for the good ole Bible to humble you where you sit.

Luke 2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

How had I lost sight of the truth in everything?  As I thought about my Christmas, My son, My missed memories, my presents.......I had forgotten to praise He who had made this all possible.  How quickly the Bible can humble you just when you need it the most.

So as the snow stops falling on this Christmas day, as the children lie down to sleep, as the toys are put in their place,  and the lights begin to fade....I leave you with my prayer for Makio....

"Dear heavenly father....I pray that you keep my loved ones safely within your presence tonight.  May their homes be filled with love and joy as we celebrate with you the birth of your son.  May I never doubt the plan you have set before me, regardless how difficult it may seem.  I pray that you watch over my son Makaio, and those who watch after him, as his mother and I wait to be joined with him forever.  I pray for strength and guidance as we move beyond this day....and I pray that you continue to watch over the millions of orphans around the world as you do my son.  In Jesus name I pray....Amen."

This Christmas will never be forgotten.......Merry Christmas to all.....and to you my son.....my little Makio.....Goodnight!