But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent for the Spirit of His Son into our hears, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 4:4-7

This time of year inherently turns our hearts to thoughts of home.  Between stockings hung by the chimney with care, Pennsylvania homemade pumpkin pie, snow, mistletoe, presents on the tree, and all the other things of Christmases just like the ones we used to know – the imagery is inescapable.

There is a reason this nostalgia is timeless – and marketable. We were created for relationship.  We were created in the image of God and God is relational.  At the core of every human being is the desire to be known, the desire to belong.