Kaley Ehret
About the Author

Kaley helps moms find a simpler, more joyful Christmas. She loves Jesus, community, and hope.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

      • Kaley,
        Your words of TRUTH filled my heart with warmth and love this morning. Just loosing 2 close friends
        and watching the spouses go through this season in their new “normal” as widows as been difficult
        and brings memories of watching my mom after my Dad was killed suddenly……the only ONE to fill
        those empty, hurting places is Jesus who because of His great love for us came as a baby, only to be
        offered up, willingly, as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.
        Thank you for using your gifts to gift us with this timely message.
        Julie

  1. Kaley,
    This is beautiful! Yes, we celebrate Jesus’ coming with joy…but I think we’ve forgotten that the joy is about Jesus – not about presents or perfectly set tables. I agree that the gaping holes in our hearts are all about Jesus too. What if we are missing the point – that Christmas is about God giving God (as Ann Voskamp would say) so that we would have a comforter to be with us in this imperfect world. What if the joy is not freedom from pain but comfort and love (Emmanuel) through the pain. May we/I not be afraid to share my humanity with the world so that the world can see just who my Savior is…awesome post!
    Advent blessings,
    Bev xx

  2. This is so beautiful and makes Christmas so much more real. I don’t know anyone who is not suffering something or feeling loss. That is the whole reason for Christ’s coming. That He might fill us! Thank you for sharing this.

  3. What a beautiful story that is so true for many people. Everyone has or will have a loss or unhappy experience in their lives and will experience this feeling of hurt during this time of year. Thank you for sharing and touching my heart.

  4. Kaley, this is the heart of Christmas, and it is beautiful! That our Savior came down to shed light in all of our dark places and infuse our hearts…our lives…our future with hope. I think there is a part of Christmas that hurts for all of us because none are untouched by loss, and I’m so grateful for the comfort and quiet peace God offers through this dwelling in our empty spaces. Thank you!!

  5. He indeed fills the spaces of this heart that faces rejection and misunderstanding and caused by human fear, isolation, caused by human limitations on inclusion being left out. But He came to earth as a human to show us by example how to live filled when empty, to live joyfully in the face of rejection and how to reach others in our own isolation and be His skin to the ones left out. Circumstances can define great outcomes if they are ignored in favor of the One in control of ALL, God Almighty!

    • Thank you Corena for stating so beautifully, so honest and truthfully, so well….. just all I have and still am experiencing….rejection, misunderstanding, isolation, loneliness….but looking unto Jesus to heal and fill those empty places with His love, His forgiveness, His mercy, His compassion, His Presence!

      Blessings of joy and peace to you as we worship Jesus, our Emmanuel!

  6. Oh my! Your words poured peace over my heart this morning! Thank you. I lost my precious mom three months ago and Christmas preparations are filled with so many memories—happy and joyful and in the next heartbeat, my eyes are filled with tears as I miss her voice, her smile and her soft cheeks. Abba has been more real and present than ever!! I’m thankful for all you shared today!!

    • Chris,
      I understand….and I am sorry for the loss of your Mother. I hope that through your pain, and sorrow, joy of her memrory will once again shine through.

      I pray you have a blessed Christmas,

      Penny

    • Chris,

      So sorry for the loss of your beloved mom. Losing someone is never easy, especially around the holidays. May God surround you with His loving arms and spill His grace & peace into your heart and soul! Praying for peace to comfort you this Christmas. May Emmanuel dwell with and in you always!

      (((((hugs)))))

  7. Well said! Indeed, our Lord Jesus did come to save us from those hurts, pains and diseases. As we give Him those places we cannot handle, those places of hurt and loss He will fill them with His love, His comfort, His peace and His Word!!!!!

  8. Kaley, thank you for your honest words and reminding me Immanuel is in the broken places. That is the hope I cling to, and what keeps me going. I often forget that He is my hope and I spiral to the depths. Thank you for sharing truth. Blessings on you.

  9. We recently lost our son. Friends have filled us with Jesus love – a thank you –

    emp·ty
    ˈem(p)tē/
    adjective
    1. containing nothing; not filled or occupied.


    E – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4


    M – my Shepherd – the Lord is my shepherd Psalm 23:1


    P – precious. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, Isaiah 43.

    T – Through. When you pass Through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. – Isaiah 43:2

    Y – You. I have called you by name and you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

    You came to us when we were empty in our darkest hour and filled our emptiness with prayers, love, support, compassion, tenderness. You will never know how much what you have done for us means to us. You have held our wounded hearts and continue to pray us through these minutes, hours, and days.

    • Pam,

      I am deeply sorry for the loss of your son. What a selfless gift to those you wrote this poem for.
      I pray that each day becomes a bit brighter for you.

      Blessings you, and your family,

      Penny

    • Pam,

      Sweet sister I am deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved son. Praying for peace to fill your heart and soul this Christmas. Thankful God sent wonderful friends to help comfort you. May you feel Emmanuel in your heart and soul this Christmas!!
      I love the poem!!

      (((((hugs)))))

  10. Pam, what an amazing attitude! May God richly cover you and your family with the comfort only He can provide. I cannot even imagine your pain. What a wonderful mnemonic! Thank you for sharing.

  11. Kaley thank-you for sharing your heartfelt words,

    “God with Us”, how comforting to hear.

    Just last night I stood on the deck thinking while in wonderment of the full moon, and then there it was, a shooting star. It reminded me how near to us He is, and that you don’t have to reach far.

    Have a blessed day,

    Penny

  12. My husband lost his job two weeks ago. Trying to get another job is very tough right now since it’s so close to Christmas. We are a one income family with our two littles. I never, ever thought we’d be applying for government assistance a week before Christmas. But, this is our reality. It’s been humbling and a huge reminder to put our hope in the Lord who promises to provide, who we will never lose.

    • M,

      Sweet sister praying for God’s peace and comfort to come into your soul and heart this Christmas. May He guide your husband to the right job quickly! May hope reign in your lives this Christmas. Jesus is the hope we seek and need. Praying for you all in this time of stress and worry! May God bless you all now and always!

      (((((hugs)))))

  13. If people don’t know Jesus, they don’t understand Christmas. I heard that whatever you see Him as is what he is to you, if you only see Him as a baby in a manger, then He’s just a cute card. But if you know He died to set you free and was born to do so, His swaddling clothes and stone manger, ( real ones are ) a type of tomb. Then He means everything to you, I know He does to me.

  14. Kaley,

    The holidays, especially Christmas, can be a hard time for many people. All the world shows is happy times with family and lots of gifts. That is not true for some people. We seem to have lost the true meaning of Christmas. It is all about Emmanuel being born a Savior. He came to save us from ourselves. ‘Christmas joy isn’t found in shiny, pretty things but in the broken hearts that prepare Him room. Yes and Amen!! Christmas is about a savior come to heal our brokenness and give us new life eternal.

    Praying for all the broken hearted people this Christmas. I pray that God would reign peace, joy and hope in your hearts and souls!

    Blessings 🙂

  15. This has been a hard year for my family, but I haven’t really acknowledged that, choosing to stay on the surface just to stay ” normal” . Reading this gives me permission to be sad. Which is a blessing. Thank you.

  16. I had just been mulling over the morning this posted – Maybe part of *abiding* is being aware of my weaknesses, my cracks, and inviting Him into that space to inhabit it with His strength.

  17. Thank you for such honesty and truth and for allowing me to remember in my battle against cancer that Jesus is my hope and salvation and His Peace transcends all human understanding. May Jesus be the reason for this Christmas and may I take time to make room for Emmanuel and rejoice in His presence.

  18. This is very honoring to those who may be hurting. Reminds me of an outpouring I had last year in “Beauty in Brokenness” on ordinary threads.com. Blessings to you!

  19. Here it is the 3rd week in January and this email was in my box from Dec. just waiting for me to browse to. Very encouraging. Emmanuel with us in our empty times, and all times all through the year. All your words were encouraging.