That "Inexpressible and Glorious Joy"

Years ago, one of Mike's grandmas gave our family The Advent Book. It is a lovely, sizable, Christmas lift-the-flap board book for all ages. Each page of the book is an illustrated scene with a door. The doors are all unique, and each opens to depict a scene from the story of Jesus' birth. There are 25 doors, and the story goes from the angel's announcement to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus through Simeon's beautiful prophetic song in the temple when Mary and Joseph have taken Jesus to be presented according to the Mosaic laws.

The pictures (as I understand it) were drawn by one of the put-togetherers of the book, Jack Stockman. He and his wife, Kathy, created a homemade book for their own family a long time ago, and then had a dream of publishing one like it, with doors that opened to pictures representing the Christmas story. Jack composed the pictures, aided by friends and neighbors who sat as models. They are all amazing pictures, but there is one in particular that takes my breath away every time I see it.

When Mary goes to Elizabeth, and they see one another for the first time as expectant mothers...

there is nothing but JOY. RADIANT JOY! BEAUTIFUL, UNINHIBITED JOY! 

And this portrait brings tears to my eyes no matter how many times I encounter it. The love and happiness in their faces are palpable. I can almost hear them laughing as understanding, bewilderment, and anticipation bring them ALL! THIS! JOY! Even the unborn John knows and is leaping, jumping full of joy!

The mystery of God becoming a man, the marvel of the Creator taking on flesh, the miracle of Immanuel...how can these mercies lead us to other than joy? May you know that joy today!