How could I have forgotten the face tattoos?
I don’t know whether to credit Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, or even the Rorschach, but there’s something in my brain that prompts me to take life’s good moments in stride and let the bad ones pitch their tents in my head. The face tats – or lack thereof – is just one recent (and yes, pathetic) example.
We’d managed to secure a tailgate spot and football tix for our crew of 16 for this year’s Commonwealth Cup between our beloved UVA Cavaliers and the dastardly HokieBirds from just over the mountain. Never mind that two of our sons-in-law graduated from Virginia Tech or that temps were forecast to be in the high 20’s at game time; our whole crowd was pumped.
I’d packed ham biscuits, chicken tenders, and the Coleman stove for the chili; goldfish and cheese sticks for the under-5 set; homemade sugar cookies decorated with U’s, V’s, and A’s; and a comprehensive assortment of cheer gear, including pompoms, party beads, and face tattoos with the UVA logo. We were ready to party—and the ‘Hoos did not disappoint. Even one of the two-year olds was still cheering in the 4th Quarter (three hours past bedtime) as UVA locked up the win.
I went to bed happy, visions of field-storming fans dancing away in my head.
The next morning, I woke up and realized—gasp!—that I had never unpacked the face tattoos. The tattoos! The ones I had purchased long before we had grandkids and was saving—saving!—for such a time as this. Somehow, suddenly, the whole priceless experience was compromised.
The Bible calls thoughts like these “little foxes,” seemingly small issues that can eat away at and destroy something precious, be it an experience, a relationship, or the security that comes with knowing we are beloved by God. And while missing cheer gear is a ridiculously minor example (and believe me, I am not proud that I gave it even a moment’s consideration), the reality is that our brains often hang on to negative thoughts more than positive ones. Psychologists call this the negativity bias.
Which is one of the reasons, I think, that God exhorts us to “sing praise and tell of all his wonderful acts” and “remember the wonders he has done” (1 Chronicles 16:9-12). Reflecting on the wonders of God’s love comes with the power to fill us with peace and transform our perspective, bringing us out of darkness and into the light.
This theme weaves its way through the Bible, perhaps nowhere as colorfully as in the Psalms. In Psalm 40, David writes about God lifting him out of the “slimy pit, out of the mud and mire,” a wondrous rescue that equips him to trust God’s plans for his future. Psalm 139 reveals the deeply personal and intentional nature of God’s creative power, knitting us together—“fearfully and wonderfully”—in the womb. And Psalm 78 points to the generational spiritual legacy that comes with telling our kids about the God’s praiseworthy deeds and the wonders he’s done: “Even the children yet to be born” will put their trust in the Lord!
Christmas is a season of wonder. This year, as we find ourselves surrounded by the sparkle of it all—lights, music, gifts, beauty—let’s pause to reflect on the ways God has been wonderful to us. Let’s talk about his praiseworthy deeds.
As Robbie and I look back on 2025, we are beyond grateful for 40 years of marriage, a milestone we celebrated with a weekend getaway in St. Michael’s, Maryland, a place that includes all of our favorite things: Bicycles, ice cream, and boats. We praise God for the arrival of baby Jane Delia Greenberg (our newest New Yorker, born to Virginia & Chris), even as we prepare to welcome two more team members, baby girl Blakeley (Hillary & Charlie are expecting their third daughter February) and baby ? Berndt (Mary & Robbie Jr. are going old-school on the gender reveal as they await the arrival of their first child in April). Robbie still loves serving as the parish executive at Galilee Church (after three years, he has finally stopped calling it a “temporary” assignment and now admits that he has a job), and I continue to toggle between work projects (it was a joy to host Mom Life Unscripted with Focus on the Family this year) and my favorite gig, running “JoJo Care” for the local grandbabies, a not-yet-accredited program built around workout routines, gardening apprenticeships, and snacks. Interested students have two years of eligibility, which means that Henry Cole (Annesley & Geoff’s younger son) is currently subject to a student-teacher ratio of 1:1.
All in all, it was a wonderful, redemptive year, and we’re rounding the corner into 2026 with hearts that are both full and expectant.
If that’s not where you are—if God feels distant, or if the little (and big) foxes have conspired to steal your joy and take your gaze off of God—I get it. I’ve been there; my word for 2024 was “endurance.” And I know it can be hard, especially at Advent, when everything in us longs to experience the wonder of Christmas, to feel like you’re trapped in the dark. And again, if that’s where you are, here are a handful of things that have buoyed my spirits during Christmases past; maybe they will be helpful to you:
Nicole Zasowski’s book, What If It’s Wonderful? is about releasing our worries and fears and finding the courage to embrace hope. It’s been a game-changer in our family, especially during those seasons when joy feels elusive.
We can also remember that it’s not really on us to look for the light or get in the Christmas spirit; the Light of the World has already come, and he is looking—he is wondrously reaching—for you.
And finally, when we feel helpless and surrounded and like we need a rescue, we can lean in and pray. We can ask God, as David did, to hear our prayer, be our refuge, and show us the wonders of his great love. (Psalm 17:6-7)
Merry Christmas from our home to yours!
xo – Jodie & Robbie
P.S. If all else fails and you still find yourself looking for joy, grab your kids or your grandkids and hit the Spotify app. This iconic song became the soundtrack for our summer—and even after taking a trip to see Noah’s Ark (the one in Kentucky) with my college besties, I still don’t know the answer.
