Sushi, Sledding, and Sabbath

When I was hired on staff at my church over ten years ago, I left behind three part-time jobs to focus on the work God was calling me to at Redeemer. They were good jobs that God had called me to at certain points in my life, but it was time for me to begin working at our church full-time. I remained part-time as an adjunct instructor at our local community college in Monroe, MI, MCCC (still do!).

From the beginning of our marriage, we felt like God was calling me to work for income, and for Tristan to stay home for her work. She might not receive a W-2, but managing our home and raising and homeschooling our six children is certainly work!!! God has always provided for us. Abundantly. Income isn't everything. God's generosity is the story of our marriage, and he is creative with his generosity. But for many years I worked four part-time jobs because I was called to them, and because we operated within the wisdom of a budget, and it required income! Often, this meant leaving very early in the morning and perhaps coming home to see the kids for brief moments throughout the day, and then I would be gone till late at night. Many families have seasons like this. It was hard, but God gives us the grace we need.

After about six months working at the church, freed from three other jobs, I was driving the family and our firstborn child,  Anastasia, who was about 6 or 7 years old :) said, "Daddy, it's not too different you working at the church except we don't see you as much."

That hit me hard. I was doing something wrong. The church staff and elders were not burdening me with crushing demands to work long hours. I, however, saw things that needed to be done, or needs that needed to be met, and so I filled my schedule regularly and often.

At an elders meeting, I took time to inform them about the work that I was doing. As I talked and talked, one of our elders (I won't name him) was falling asleep. He said he listened better with his eyes closed:) But our founding Pastor, Joe Atkinson, was not sleepy and he interrupted me with a sharp, gentle question: "Do you have a day off?"

I stuttered and stammered about a vague idea of "Sometimes I..." No. I didn't have a day off. Pastor Joe's question was so simple, and my answer really was not as complicated as I was making it to be. No. I did not have a day off. Anastasia's observation, and Pastor Joe's question were ways that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me that I was able to hear. I realize now that He was speaking many others ways about this (the scriptures and my wife!) but I was not listening.

Since then, Tristan and I have been intentional about a "Family Day." Sometimes we call it our "Play & Pray" as Eugene Peterson and his wife, Jan, called it. "Sabbath" is a word we sometimes use. Our family stops our work and comes together for a meal, the word, and games or adventures. In different seasons it has been different days in the week, but we contend for it. Imperfectly! With Evangeline in the hospital for 6 months in 2025, it just wasn't possible. Then, when she was finished with treatments and doing really well, we had Gabriel. Newborns are amazing AND they can disrupt everything...including Sabbaths! But our other kiddos are older and have schedules and activities that can be even more disruptive than a newborn!

However, during this last Christmas break, we locked in, and we Sabbathed hard. Our timeframe for our Family Day has been Friday evening till Saturday evening. Anastasia suggested that we make our own sushi Friday night. It was a mess, we didn't know what we were doing, but we had a blast together! We prayed a psalm together, and then talked about our Saturday morning/afternoon plans. We went to a movie together in the morning, which we hadn't done in years! We finished our afternoon with sledding--a first for Eva and Gabe! Our hearts were so full!

 

Jesus says in the Gospel of Mark (2:27) the "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." It is a gift of grace from our Father. My faith has had to grow to take hold of this gift. I am still growing in this area, but we are trying to get our work done by 5pm tonight (or so), so that we can pray and play together. 

Do you have a day off? If you do, thank God, and enjoy! If not, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to do this. The Father loves to give good gifts to his children.

I really enjoyed this book about Sabbath when I read it a few years ago that could be helpful: Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World by A. J. Swoboda

Red Christmas, Blue Christmas

"Red leather, yellow leather."  Try saying that five times fast! Really. Stop reading and try it! My students at Monroe County Community College know this tongue twister well. It takes time, concentration, and many repetitions to get it right. When I want to switch it up a bit, I include "Blue leather" in the mix. It slows it down.

A few years ago I learned of a "Blue Christmas"--not the Elvis song!--but a special church service where the celebration overdrive of the season is slowed down. The holidays can be hard for some of us, and the Blue Christmas service can make space for comfort for those who are grieving or struggling in other ways during this season. Our Young Adults at Redeemer did this a few years ago, and our church offered a Blue Christmas service the year after Covid. It was a "switch up" for many of us. I know it slowed me down. It let me feel some of the losses I had not taken time to recognize: the absence of my dad from the holidays since his passing, for instance. Then I realized that our child we were expecting that year, Evangeline, would never meet my dad. I shared those losses, and our community carried them with me. I carried theirs, too. Grieving with those who grieve is one of our callings as a church (Romans 12:15).

This year has been a Red Christmas!!! So many good things! Family, friends, feasting and remembering "God with us."  We have been lavished by God's goodness in 2025!

Last year was great, too! Until it wasn't. Christmas Eve was the Curry family party. We rejoiced, but we took time to slow down and reflect on and share our losses, too. It was deep and special, and our "Good News" girl brought the news of another baby! But Christmas Day 2024, Evangeline did not have the energy to open her presents. The day after Christmas, she and Tristan tested positive for Covid and were quarantined. A fever spike for Eva two days later convinced me that she could need serious medical attention. We rushed her to the ER at Mott's Children's Hospital. What unfolded over the following two weeks was her diagnosis and the beginning of her treatment for AML--a bone marrow Leukemia.

Yesterday, we had routine bloodwork for her at Mott's. She is doing so well! All of her numbers are wonderful. It is a huge relief every time. Our doctor reiterated that most patients who go into remission as she did stay in remission for the rest of their lives! This is our prayer--that she is in remission for the rest of her long and fruitful life. This is our hope.

What confronts us daily are the anniversaries of really hard things from last year. Admissions to the hospital, discharges, and readmissions. Tests, pokes, screams. Repeat. Lots of waiting for answers that we did not want to hear. These come with a tsunami of feelings. My feelings are like a tongue twister right now. With time, concentration, and repetition, maybe I can sort through them. They are more complicated than a tongue twister, though. Tristan and I will do our best to work through these feelings year after year, and shepherd our wonderful kids through them, too. 

I don't feel pressure to do this perfectly. We don't have to fix our feelings. We don't even have to articulate them perfectly. We have a Shepherd who is fully able to empathize with us (Hebrews 4:15). He has faced the conflicting feelings of joy and loss and walked through them to eternal life. If we follow him, we will get there, too.

Tristan and I are living in a Red Christmas in the shadow of a Blue Christmas. We can blend them and get a Purple Christmas. I was taught that purple is the color of Royalty...yes, I am obsessed with Jesus! Whatever "color" our Christmas is, "Christ" means "King." He has been our King through our joy and our pain. He will be our King as we process our feelings, and he came as God in the form of a human so that none of it will be without purpose. He can use it all for good. Somehow, through him, through it all, God will be seen for who he is. He is good.

Whatever color in the rainbow your Christmas is, invite him in! He will meet you right where you are, and lead you where you need to be. He is so good.

Gabriel's Herald

Photo from December 24, 2024. One year ago today, we announced to our family and church family that we were expecting another baby! We did this by giving our youngest, Evangeline Hope Curry, a "Big Sister" shirt--you've seen that done before? It always feels fresh and exciting to me. Especially with Eva!!So much joy!!! 

We were also so thankful that Evangeline was making a great recovery after an undiagnosed health scare in July. Her bone marrow stopped producing neutrophils, red blood cells, and platelets. We brought her to Mott's Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. Our church family gathered to pray and intercede  in our sanctuary. She had a single blood transfusion, but no diagnosis and no treatment. Her bone marrow biopsy showed fibrosis, but they found no cancer or immune diseases.  After a few days, her bloodwork showed signs of improvement! They sent us home after five days!

Maybe it was a virus? They ran an extensive genetic testing panel that took months to process. We met with the genetic specialist in November. Her blood numbers continued to improve--they were the best numbers he had seen all day! We had no answers from him. We had hope that we were through the hardest thing we have ever faced.

Last year's Christmas Eve party at our house with the extended Curry family was joyful, and we grieved losses and pain together, but we had so much hope. Evangeline was the herald for our family. She wandered through the party with occasional shrieks of joy and delight when someone recognized her "Big Sister" shirt. Our Christmas Eve Communion Service at Redeemer was the same. What a great day to announce that a baby is coming! And who better than a girl named "Good News!"

My wife, Tristan, and I still feel the joy of that day. We also feel a year of pain, brokenness, and glory that followed. Evangeline announced the coming of Gabriel Isaac Curry one year ago today. By God's grace, they are with us today. Again, this year we are having the extended Curry family at our house, and the Christmas Eve Service with Redeemer, our beautiful church family. Immanuel has been with us through this entire year. 

Oh come, let us adore Him!