God, thank you for gifts you can wrap and gifts you cannot. You love seeing us enjoy all kinds of gifts. Thank you for your love of giving. For your love, period. Thank you for grace. For unmerited favor upon a messy, broken person like myself. Thank you for coming.

But maybe God chooses ALL kinds of people. Maybe He chooses prostitutes for His heritage and murderers for His kings and blind men for His brothers and you and me and everyone for His family. Those who never leave the church building and those who left church decades ago.

It's the sweetest thing when old people hold babies. A tiny new hand wrapped around an old shaking finger. Old eyes gazing into new ones. Generations meeting face to face. The expectant one, holding the Expected One.

Joseph made plans to "take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced." I have no idea what kind of plans he had, but I know one thing: he had grace in his heart for Mary. Just like God had grace in His heart for us. Joseph's heart mirrors the One he is about to raise.

Sometimes I wonder how in the world our hearts can hold all they do, all at once. All the joy.  All the grief. All the anticipating. All the fear. All the wonder. All the questions. All of it coming and going. All of it treasured. Each piece mattering. Together.  Each piece treasured like precious, delicate things.

God loves those with colorful pasts. Adores them. Comes for them. Redeems them. Uses them for His kingdom.

It's as if the King proudly sang a future for His Boy right in front of us. Can you hear it? "And He shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  

Where do you need God with you?  In your Monday morning or your marriage or your messy emotions? In your quiet, constant anxiety? In your depression or your decisions?

One of my brilliant counselor-friends says guilt is like a coach. It can show you something that needs to change, it can be a productive teacher, and it can cheer you on to remedy a situation. But if we find guilt coaching us in a way that tears us down, makes us feel insignificant, and puts us under the pile, then we need to listen to a different coach. 

I sit thankful this morning, on Thanksgiving Day, for those who have walked before us and written on keeping our soul. On finding the Anchor. On trusting God with all of it. 

No matter where you are on the anxious spectrum today - may you find encouragement.