Advent Joy

"The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people" (Luke 1:25, HCSB).Thanks for reading crumbs from His table fellowship! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and receive the ebook Sehnsucht Season, which includes many other essays and poems as well as this one.An angel's good news beggars the priest's beliefAnd stops his mouth.A seed of joy, sown by an expired prayer,Takes root in his aged bride's shriveled womb,Flutters, kicks new life into dead hopes.Fruit of the promise swells, burgeons,Tautens the walls of empty longingWith outlandish hope.God sends a son called Grace*--A son for Elisabeth--Grace for her disgrace,Favor for her shame,Joy for her sorrow,But grace upon grace:Her Grace-child jumps for joy,Joy dancing in her barren places.Mute joy-leaps hail the Author of joy,And the mother of Grace meets the mother of her Lord.Grace rejoices in the comingOf the Grace-giver Himself,As near and as farAs the embrace of two unexpectedly expectant mothers(One too soon, one too late, both in good time)Rejoicing together in good newsOf the promise coming,The Sunrise from on high dawning,So near they can feel it kick. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crumbsfromhistable.substack.com