One Page at a Time: Advent Acrostics
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
My mother has been true to my words over the years. But, I did place her in a quandary with the four-stanza "Christmas Wonder" poem. She managed to squeeze it into her landscape-oriented Christmas card and still maintain the poem's line breaks. To prevent future angst, most of her poems--including the Advent Acrostics--are one-stanza wonders. Occasionally, I fail to refrain and provide her with a lengthier piece, which she uses as an insert.
The Advent Acrostics also provide one way I organized While Bethlehem Sleeps. Each separates the other poems into the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. I have added a fifth theme of faith. One of my desires is for individuals, couples, and families to use While Bethlehem Sleeps as Advent readings during their personal and family devotions. In fact, my father's request that I produce a paperback version for his adult Sunday School class has allowed me to share my words as a teaching, ministry tool.
I am humbled and amazed by God's use of these yearly Christmas card poems. May He continue to do so!