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And what a lovely picture they all made that morning, with their sleepy, joyful smiles and messy bed hair covered by floppy hats.
It was the Christmas gathering Helen had been dreaming of.
“Papa, read!” Ella, Tyler’s little girl, came running up to Kevin, who sat beside Helen, his thick Bible a weight in her small pudgy hands.
Kevin set aside his mug of black decaf coffee, took the Bible from Ella with one hand, and pulled her onto his lap with the opposite arm. “It is that time, isn’t it?” He looked around the room, and without a cue, the children all left whatever they were doing and gathered around Kevin and Helen, sitting on the floor.
After turning to the book of Luke, Kevin cleared his throat and then bowed his head. “Lord, bless the reading of Your Word. Let us hear Your story and be amazed all over again by Your great love. Amen.”
Amensechoed in the room.
With his finger on the page, Kevin began to read. “Luke 2, the birth of Jesus. In those days . . .”
Helen listened to his deep, resonant voice and savored this moment. Like Mary did after the birth of her holy son, Helen treasured these things in her heart. From two broken and desperately lost people who had married more to cover up a pregnancy than to honor God, He had worked this: a room full of people she cherished. A family grown in faith.
They were a miracle. She was sitting in the middle of a forty-year-long miracle. And the best part?
God wasn’t done yet.
Helen was certain of it—because there they were, still living. And after that? They would have a whole eternity to celebrate all that God had done.
Glory to God in the highest!
Glory. Glory! Glory indeed!
Kevin finished reading at verse 20, and as he reached for her, she took his hand.
Ella turned her cherub face upward and smiled. “Presents?”
Laughing, Kevin nodded. “Presents!”
All chaos broke loose. Soon paper and bags were everywhere. The room filled with all the unnecessary stuff that came with an American Christmas, but also with laughter and friendly banter.
Connor and Reid had given Lily and Kellen each a card that had caused a moment of mystery. Neither child read the contents aloud, but they exchanged a meaningful look, and then both moved to hug Connor. From her spot to the side of that group, Helen could hear Lily whisper, “Yes!” Kellen didn’t say anything, but he did fist bump Reid.
Anticipation, and still a niggling of worry, threaded through Helen, but nothing followed. The family simply continued unwrapping Christmas. Somewhere in the midst of the madness, Brandon and Megan managed to slip an envelope into Helen’s hands.
What she found inside made her laugh heartily. She had no idea that any of the boys had known the story of how she’d told Kevin about Brayden . . . but obviously they did.
The card inside the envelope held an ultrasound image and a note that readI hear you’re the best, so I can’t wait to meet you, Grandma and Grandpa!
Oh goodness! She had miscalculated those weeks ago when she was numbering the grands. Fifteen scurrying around now, yes. However, it was notoneon the way, but with Brayden and Audrey’s, Tyler and Becca’s, and Brandon and Megan’s as well, there werethree!
They would have eighteen grandchildren!
Kevin had draped his arm around her and laughed along with her as they read the announcement. When Helen turned to search his eyes, she expected to find pure excitement there. And she did. But also an emotion she could only describe as humility.
Ah, this man. He did feel deeply. Helen covered his cheek with one palm and leaned in to kiss him. “It’s so much more than we ever dreamed, isn’t it?”
He shut his eyes for a breath and then nodded. “Exceedingly abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine.”
The wonderful noise of Christmas continued around them, but for that moment, it was only Helen and Kevin, their hearts lifted together in adoration of the God who could and had and would continue to bemore.
Kevin dozed in his leather recliner, his belly full of moist turkey, cranberry salad, and homemade rolls. His heart, if it were possible, was fuller. This season had beenfull. And he thanked God he’d been allowed more time on the earth so he could experience it.
This life was such a gift.
Behind closed eyes, Kevin replayed the tender moments only shared between Helen and himself last night. Alone in their room, the house at last quiet, he had tugged her into his arms, and they began moving to the music of their hearts. Time after time he’d tasted the sweetness of her kisses and savored the whispered promise ofsoon.
