10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-12
During this Christmas season I have not necessarily been the most festive of persons. I have lamented the shopping, preparations, and sheer expectation to be happy just because it is Christmas. To my defense I have given birth, left my job, moved to a new city and set up a rental home all in the last two months. These are not the times in which effervescent joy exudes from my pores. I have been stressed and have taken it out on my children, my husband and myself. However today I am humbled. As I awake on Christmas morning I am humbled by my blessings. I deserve none of this. I am able to have this life and all these wonderful experiences and joyful moments because Jesus was born and ultimately died for me.
I am confronted this morning with my human selfishness. I am surrounded by family and food and wonderful gifts of material things. How can I not be thankful? How can I look at my sweet sleeping baby with her perfect round cheeks and sweet breath and not be profoundly humbled at God's grace? Yet still I look and expect more. I pray fervently for miracles and await the news of God's hand in our everyday life.
There are people today with plenty of money and material things who are experiencing heartache. The new parents whose child is in the NICU, the widower that is having his first Christmas without his wife, the friend whose mother is sick and may not live to see the Christmas sunset. I do not fault them for feeling sad, morose or downright bitter about Christmas this year. However, these same people are exclaiming the love of God and the miracle of Christmas. There is peace and even joy in their experiences as they feel God's comfort and see the light of the season despite the human experience.
I have witnessed those children whom Santa finds in the hospital because they are too sick to leave the sterile walls around them. Even those children having Christmas surrounded by medicine, needles and tests will look at their doctors and nurses and wish them Merry Christmas with excitement and love coming from their faces. They will bring to consciousness the true meaning of Christmas and bring those taking care of them back to the reality of God's greatest gift.
I am blessed by my three children. They are healthy, beautiful and happy. Today I am knocked to my knees by how wonderful God has been to me. I will not dwell on what I think that I need or really just want. More cooperation, following my directions, listening to what I have to say. Maybe I need to be quiet and reflective and listen more to them and what God is trying to convey to me through their little voices. There are parents celebrating Christmas today without their children. Some are in heaven, others at war, and many who are just not able to make it home for Christmas. I look into they eyes of my children, hold their warm little bodies in a big hug and I am so thankful.
I have been given the gift of my husband, who is a constant provider of strength and support. I love his boyish charm and my heart grows each time I watch him playing on the floor with our children. God has given me a good Daddy for my babies. He celebrates their small triumphs and is there to kiss the boo boos. He is not afraid to employ tough love, like a good father does. I can fall into his embrace and feel protected and assured. He brings me back to reality, that blessings are flowing through our life together and I should not miss this.
I am no longer bound by my inability to break myself out of my rut, I never had the power within myself anyway. This Christmas morning I opened the door to the knocking of the truth on my heart. I need the love of God, to fall into His arms to trust in Him. God gave us his son. I cannot fathom the sacrifice the unbelievable gift he gave to us. So today I celebrate the birth of my Saviour. We will sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eat, drink and be merry in his honor today. I no longer will feel sorry for myself, for I have nothing to be sad about. God loves me, he loves us all in ways we cannot understand. To have love is the greatest gift of all!
So as I organize the gifts and clean up the wrapping paper and boxes, I will take a moment to be quiet. I will not breeze by the Nativity, but stop and reflect on the meaning of the depiction of Jesus' birth. I will say a quiet prayer for all those who are suffering and thank God that I am in the midst of joyful chaos today. I will continue to look for God in my everyday life and pray for miracles, for he delivers even to those of us who are most undeserving. My three miracles are studying their gifts, eating candy canes, racing cars and begging for more food. Merry Christmas!
- Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
- Praise Him, all creatures here below;
- Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
- Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
- The Doxology
