Pearl Allard
About the Author

Pearl Allard is an imperfect Son-follower learning to enjoy grace. Sunflowers are her spiritual metaphor, because they track the sun’s movement as Christians seek to follow God’s son, Jesus. She is a happily-mostly-aftered, homeschooling mama to two teens and lives in Southwest Michigan.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Pearl,
    What a delight reading you here this am.! Love this story. Don’t we learn some of the best lessons from our children? So many times I feel like I’ve gotten stuck halfway there. Praise for a God who moves in us and enables us to follow Him when there is nothing left in us to get us out of the muck and mire we are in. Our job is to abide in Him and then wait, with expectation, as to what HE will perform. Like you calling and continuing to call your children to “come to Bethlehem”, I am thankful for a God who woos us, continually, to come to Him. Beautiful!
    Christmas blessings friend,
    Bev xx

    • Bev, thank you for your sweet words and Christmas blessings to you, also, friend! Kids teach me so much. So thankful with you for our amazing Heavenly Father who calls us His kids no matter our age. May He continue to perform His work in and through your life as you bless many!

  2. Amazing how beauty comes from the places in our lives where we’d least expect it.
    Thank you for persevering and for sharing the outcome — evidence of God’s faithfulness to meet us wherever we are — with such inspiring words.

    • Michele, you’re so right – beauty from the unexpected. I kind of love how God has no problem casting off the conventional when it doesn’t suit His purposes. So grateful that if we have to endure the hard anyway, He can make art with it. Your kind words are a gift. Merry Christmas!

  3. I thank you as I really need to stop trying to meld the fragments of my many Christmases into a perfect day every year. I’ve been broken so much in this last 3 years and know only Jesus Christ is my gift… I will rest in that this weekend as I have much to be thankful for, even if it’s not perfect , He is! Blessings to y’all

    • Sweet Sadie, your heart is such a gift to mine. That you cling to Christ when the brokenness is greatest….This morning it struck me that barren trees make the most beautiful silhouettes against a brilliant Sonrise. Just prayed for you, sister. May He comfort your weary heart as you continue to rest in Him.

    • Linda,

      Praying for you sweet one! May He provide peace & contentment to your soul. I pray He gives you a discerning heart to know His will for your life.

      (((((Hugs)))))

  4. Pearl, You made me smile this morning! What a beautiful delight of a “tradition” you have started. Such poise and beauty and great imagination. I saw Mary & Joesph, literally. I am sure it was very similar form them as well. I just love this, it makes my heart swell.
    Thank you. Oh and by the way I live in the Detroit area. 🙂 xo

  5. Thank you for your beautiful devotion this morning. Reminding me to ” look up,” He is all I need! Many blessings and Merry Christmas!

    • Sweet Darlene, thank you. So grateful you were encouraged and asking Him to gift your heart with more than you could ask or imagine this Christmas. Keep looking up!

  6. I love this story and the scriptures you included. As a procrastinator, project starter reluctant to complete I was encouraged by your words.

    • Patricia, I’m so with you! Grateful you were encouraged. May our amazing God give you strength, stamina, and a good soak in His love for you this Christmas.

  7. Just what I have needed myself this Season. Perspective and remembering that He doesn’t ever give up on me, even when I’m giving up. Thank you for this timely piece. Merry Christmas.

    • Kristen, I’m so glad He met you where you’re at today. Isn’t it such a comfort that He’s going to finish what He started in us? May you be given blessed rest in the assurance of His deep delight in you this Christmas. Blessed by your presence here today. Merry Christmas to you, also!

  8. Reading this today has blessed me in so many different levels, Pearl. Love your sweet family tradition … and that you haven’t given up. Thank you for reminding me that God is not done with us yet and that we can always look up to Him no matter how messy it gets around us.

    • Hulda, dear sister. Your friendship has blessed me on so many different levels! I’m thrilled it’s a two-way street. Your quiet work doing the crazy-hard persevering…blesses me. We’ll keep helping each other keep going! May you and your family be given blessings beyond that which you could ask or imagine this Christmas. Hugs!

    • Brenda, hugging you right back, sister! Grateful with you for God’s faithfulness. May He hug your heart in the places only He can and help you persevere through whatever season and place you’re in. Merry Christmas!

    • Rebekah. Precious sister… Wishing I could give you a real hug. So grateful with you that it’s all about Him and that we fight from victory, not for it. May you be given rest in His victory for and His delight in you.

    • The kids love watching past years, too! My prayer is that by acting out the story, they’ll realize they’re already in His story. Birdie, thank you for being part of His story, a gift to your Heavenly Daddy. (And me!) Merry Christmas!

  9. Pearl,

    Life gets tough. Sometimes it feels like time to throw in the towel & just give up. Praise God He never gives up on us. Even if we are halfway to Bethlehem we need to keep on this journey. We can’t stay stuck we need to keep moving & abiding in Him-reaching daily for His hand of help. Thank God for wonderful caring husbands, & children. Kids can take almost anything & make it into something fun & enjoyable. They teach us so much.

    Blessings 🙂

    • Dear Beth, blessings right back to you, sister! Praising God with you! I’m nodding agreement to your thoughts about perseverance and kids and God’s faithfulness… May you be given unshakable joy this Christmas!

    • Francee, thank you. For your heart for Jesus and your presence here. For the heart hug. May Jesus hug your heart in ways only He can – Merry Christmas to you, too!

  10. I’m sure the Lord was smiling on that film, and maybe laughing at being a Cabbage patch doll. How many times do you hear about stealing baby Jesus from the manger, one little girl she did it to keep Him warm.

    • Rebecca, thanks for the smile – loved reading your comment. 🙂 May you be given many smiles and laughter this season – kind that reach all the way to your heart. Hugs!

  11. Pearl, your real is so refreshing. Your beautiful heart and words are like a safe place. Thanks for making me laugh, cry and repent.

    So glad Jesus meets us where we are and walks us home, and takes our messes and turns them into masterpieces.

    • *happy tears* Rachael, I’m so glad He does that for us, too. And I’m grateful the journey includes some amazing sisters – including you! – to make this life more bearable. May you strongly feel His delight in you this year. Hugs!

  12. What a beautiful Christmas tradition!

    God’s promise in Philippians 1:6 is so assuring. Often we feel useless in Kingdom work. I love Christian songs about God using the broken, wounded, and scarred to do His work.