Christmas Letter 2001


Steve, October 2000
Dear Friends,

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast unmeasured, boundless, free.
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward, to my glorious rest above.

When we sang this song at Steve's funeral, how the words rang true in my heart. How was it that only after the tragic loss of my son did I realize the enormity of God's love for me? It seems impossible that I would feel anything positive at such a time. But God's love is a real and pervasive force which overwhelmed me and became my lifeline before the darkness could bury me in the grave of total despair. Yes, my heart was broken. I felt as if an atomic bomb had gone off in my chest. But I also had a sense of God bending over me and gently, tenderly picking up all the little pieces of my heart. I had just lived my worst nightmare, yet when I opened my eyes it was as if I were staring into the very face of God. He was there holding me, singing over me. (See Zephaniah 3:17)

As the days and weeks went by, Greg and I found ourselves under brutal attack by the enemy. The arrows came at us on all sides: doubts, confusion, blame, fear, anxiety, sleeplessness, and questions without answers -- How? Why? If only! Questions assaulted our faith: Is God really sovereign in all things? Does God really have a plan? Do all things really work together for good for us who love God and are called according to His purpose? (Romans 8:28) At times we didn't even have the strength or the faith to keep holding onto God. In those dark days we discovered that it was God who was holding onto us. In Jude verse 24 it says that it is God who is able to keep us from stumbling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with great joy! Truly, not only is our Heavenly Father our Comfort but He is our Strong Tower! We can sing with conviction Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the Lord is a Strong Tower; the righteous run to it and are safe!"

So what have we learned through this great trial? As the children of a loving Heavenly Father, we can say with confidence, "God is enough!"

Greg and I want to thank all of you for praying for us. Thank you also for the cards, phone calls, meals, poems, songs, visits, and the many other ways you reached out to us. You have made a difference in our lives.

I'm sure this Christmas letter is unlike any you have ever received. It is one unlike any I have ever written. Our sincere wish this Christmas is that you would know the Lord. Know that Jesus who was born in Bethlehem is Emmanuel, God with us. Come to know Him as your savior. Know that your Heavenly Father is your comfort and your strong tower. And know that God is enough.

Leaning on His Everlasting Arms,
Greg and Nan Wright
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