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Luke 1:24-25 CSB
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months.
She said,  
"The Lord has done this for me. 
He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."
Luke 1:24-25 CSB
Can you imagine carrying shame your whole life?
Here is Elizabeth as an older person finally putting down the shame she has held her whole adult life.
While Zechariah wasn't able to talk he must've communicated in some way with Elizabeth what happened to him with the Angel Gabriel.
And Elizabeth's response?
To tuck herself away. 
And to finally release the shame. 
Shame put on her by others. 
Expectations, norms, others. 
Even in our times of joy and goodness there can be these strands of sorrow, loss, grief, and yes, shame.
At Christmas it's supposed to be all joy and tinsel and happiness ('cos our culture says so).
Yet for many this time of year carries with it loss, grief, and shame.
The redemptive story of Christmas is that Jesus entered in to this world that was full of loss, grief, and shame.
He joined us anyway.
What does God's Love and Grace invite us to put down today?
#advent
#Christmas 
#redemptivestrands #GodsLoveisEnough #weareBeloved 

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