"When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby..."

There He was,

hanging on a cross,

suffering unspeakable agony.

"But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister,

Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby,

He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"

Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"

From that hour the disciple took her into his own household."

{John 19:25b-27}

I read the beloved disciple's account of Jesus crucifixion earlier this week,

and I was simply stuck by this tender scene.

Looking down from that old rugged cross,

battered & bruised,

Christ the mighty Maker dying for man the creature's sin...

He saw His mother.

Even in His utter agony He thought,

so sweetly,

of her care.

What a wonderful Savior!

While He was suffering for her sins (& mine) He made provision for her earthly care.

In this I note His faithfulness.

As her first-born it was His responsibility to care for her needs.

He shirked none of the things the Father required of Him.

From the greatest to the smallest.

I also note His tender care & compassion.

Oh, how kind!

Perhaps, even at this moment the sword of Simeon's prophecy in Luke 2:35 was piercing her soul as she watched Him suffer that day.
What a comfort it must have been for her to know His love.

Take notice that He left her to the care of His beloved disciple.

He didn't just leave her to the care of His half brothers, James or Jude.

I read in a study note that, at this time, they did not yet believe.

He was surely even concerned for her spiritual well-being in placing her in a believing household.

I was just overwhelmed by this little morsel of goodness the Lord showed me from His word.

I am in awe over His tender care & concern for His own.

It is a good reminder too, in seeing John's example of obedience to Lord in this,
that if the Lord places in our care one of His own to treat them as just that - His loved one that we have been given the great privilege of caring for here on earth. Whether it be a little child or an aged parent or whatever. It's an honor & a privilege to serve Him in this way.

Of course, at this time of year my thoughts naturally gravitate back to His humble entrance into this sin-cursed world. As that Baby unlike any other.

Son of God & Son of Man.

The woman's Seed Who would crush the serpent's head.

So, of course, I have another song for ya. ;)

Cuz, that's just how my brain works.

I think I must think in song.

When we were kiddos my friends & I would play a game where someone would say a random word, and we would try to think of a song with that word in it. I think I was only stumped once. (That was before you could just google it too.) ;P

Music has just always been very dear to me.

I love to sing.

As a little girl a family rule was legislated just for me.

"No singing at the supper table" was the decree from Mom & Dad.

(Apparently they did NOT want me singing for my supper.)

I think music is very dear to God too though.

I'm so thankful that He has chosen it as a main means of praising Him.

Oh, how wonderful it is to sing praises to our Redeemer!

Just lately I've gotten kind of irritated with most "Christmas" music.

Sorry but Jingle Bells 75 different ways just doesn't cut it for me.
(That's not what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.)

I've been craving real CHRISTmas music.

I absolutely love all the Christmas hymns.

(Hark! The Herald, Joy to the World, all that good stuff.)

I've just recently discovered the Getty's Christmas album & I. am. in. love.

Here are songs of substance.

(And it doesn't hurt that they're Irish, I am a wee bit Irish myself. Lol!) ;)

I love every song on the album, but here is one of my faves.



 I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
My other faves are "Fullness of Grace", "O Savior of Our Fallen Race",
& "Joy Has Dawned/Angels We Have Heard on High." ^-^
You better believe I'll be dancing like a fool with the kiddos to some of these...
pretending I know how to do those jigs & reels. Lol! #sorrynotsorry ;P

~*~

I'm not making any of my Christmas gifts this year, but I do have a few knitting projects I've been working on. Hopefully I'll have some pics to share soon. Do you remember the vintage pixie hat I made for my niece, Annelise, last year? Well, she's naturally outgrown it so I made her another in a larger size. Thankfully, last year's version shan't go unused this year though, because my sister had another baby this year too! Yay for more babies! So, sweet baby Joel & Annelise can have matching hats of adorableness. ^_^ (RolyPolyJoely is that cutester in my profile pic.)

~*~