CHRISTMAS STORY

Mary and Joseph packed up and prepared for perhaps a week or two away. But they ended up going from Bethlehem to Egypt and left the first part of their life behind. Made me think about the times we leave our house for a short trip, a family gathering, or a vacation not knowing that life would change forever in the next days or weeks. A child comes, a relationship breaks, a doctor gives a diagnosis, the fire destroys a home, a teen rebels and we have to learn to live differently the rest of the way to our eternal home. They didn't know and we don't know......




Mary must have been exhausted, sore and discouraged as they finally found a bed of hay to sleep on. I can imagine her thinking she couldn't wait to get a long nights sleep for perhaps tomorrow they expected to check in for the tax census and wait in line for many hours. But the first labor pains let her know it would not be a night of rest . It would be a long and painful night. Both were tired, both were hoping for more than a bed of hay to welcome their first born, but God knew the story He was writing through their humble hearts. The joy that was set before them in their exhaustion and pain was the delivery of a special baby boy. The baby who would also be asked one day to endure one more thing when he was tired and weary. And the joy that would be set before Him would be our salvation. I can celebrate the joy of His birth when i find a soft bed, at the end of my busy day of Christmas preparations, but can I find joy in the long painful night? What joy is set before me then? It is, as it was for Mary, to behold the face of Jesus. Mary forgot the exhaustion and pain when she looked into his face, just like every mom who looks into the face of their newborn baby. And we will forget this light and momentary affliction when we look into the face of the grown up Jesus for eternity. Joy!




Newborn Jesus felt the cold of the stable, the scratch of the hay and the soft swaddle. His new eyes saw the furrowed brow of father, the loving smile of mother, the animals with whom he shared a bed of hay. He smelled the animal smells, the sweaty robes of shepherds come to see. Baby sensed the tired mommy, the worried father and the awe and wonder of shepherds come to worship a king. Wonderful Counselor would one day give light to the darkness , Prince of Peace would offer hope for peace in the troubled heart and in the cruel Roman world, and Mighty God would show himself more powerful than Ceasars and religious leaders. This baby experiencing humanity so he could one day redeem it all. MERRY GRATEFUL CHRISTMAS FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US!