The Hope

Sandy stared at the cold, unlit oven, its emptiness echoing the void in her heart on this Christmas Eve. Normally, the cozy warmth of the kitchen would be filled with the aroma of baked goodies, and laughter would resonate through the house. This year, however, the absence of Joshua, kidnapped by airship pirates, cast a somber shadow over their home.

Their Son, Caleb, had embarked on a daring mission to rescue his father, and Detective Armstrong was of little help. He had told Sandy that the airship Caleb was on had been delayed in meeting the disabled airship due to a bad storm. The news hadn’t made her feel any better. With a shrug of his shoulders and a mumbled, “Merry Christmas,” he was gone.

Determined to shake off the melancholy, Sandy wiped a tear from her eye and called out to Abigail. Bundling up in scarves and coats, they stepped outside into the chilly air, the clinking of gears and hissing steam from passing carriages carrying happy merry goers did little to lighten their mood. As they walked through the cobbled streets adorned with gas lamps and intricate brass decorations, Sandy felt the weight of loneliness pressing down on her.

“I can’t help but think about what Dad and Caleb are going through right now,” Abigail said, breaking the silence. She used her gloved hand to wipe away a tear.

“We have been praying for their safety,” replied Sandy. “We need to trust that God is watching over them and keeping them safe.”

“But even in the bible the men of God went through terrible experiences,” Abigail shivered thinking about it. “How do we know something terrible isn’t happening to Dad and Caleb right now?”

Sandy had to pause for a minute before answering, she had been thinking the same thing. “We have to remember that Satan is at work in the world also, and God, in his love, allows people their freedom of choice. Unfortunately, there are people that choose Satan’s path instead of God’s. That was the reason He had to come to earth, to disprove Satan’s claim that God would use His power to punish sin. Instead He gave us the option to choose Him and ask Him into our hearts to heal our sinful condition. Satan was so angered by that, that he had his followers kill Jesus, but in so doing he proved that God’s character would never use power to force obedience. Even if it meant His death.”

Abigail nodded, “I understand Mom, it’s just in times like this that I have to keep it in mind. It’s not always easy.”

They continued to meander through the narrow lanes until they stumbled upon a familiar sight—a beautifully crafted automated Christmas display of the manger. The previous year, their family had been contracted by the city to build it. Sandy's eyes welled with tears as memories flooded back of Joshua, Caleb, and Abigail working together to create this intricate masterpiece.

Abigail reached down and pressed a button making the display come to life, gears whirring and steam escaping as Joseph and Mary, meticulously crafted in brass, leaned over the crib containing a small, animated figure of baby Jesus. The barn animals moved in unison, and from behind the scene, tiny automatons representing shepherds emerged, kneeling by the crib. The soft melody of "Silent Night" accompanied the enchanting scene.

At first, the beauty of the display intensified Sandy and Abigail's sense of loss. But then, as the shepherds knelt in reverence, Sandy's gaze shifted from the ornate figures to the stars twinkling above.

Remembering the hope that the birth of Jesus brought to the world, Sandy felt a renewed sense of strength. She looked down at Abigail, her daughter's eyes reflecting the same mixture of sadness and hope. Sandy whispered, "Christmas is about more than just the past. It's about the hope that still exists today."

Together, mother and daughter stood there, hand in hand, watching the automated scene unfold before them. And in that moment, surrounded by the cold embrace of the steampunk city, Sandy found solace in the enduring message of hope that Christmas carried. The trials they faced were significant, but the spirit of the season reminded them that even in the darkest times, a flicker of hope could light the way.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,

we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done

for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of

undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and

joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we

run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop

endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character

strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to

disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us

the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

Romans 5:1-5 New Living Translation