December 24 2015

December 24 2015 Greetings My Friend The anticipation grows as I attend services and begin the journey to Bethlehem. I anxiously wait for the reading of the accounts of Jesus’ birth and I can feel the excitement as the angels sing about God’s Son birth this very night. Each year I long for this moment of celebration. I feel the hope that comes with a child’s birth. I remember the hope I had at my children’s birth. I remember soothing them with tender words as they cried their first cries upon entering the world. I remember unwrapping them from their blankets looking at their tiny fingers and toes. I marveled at their grip on my finger. I see these moments when I look upon the birth of Jesus. Through the years I absorb the fact that Jesus lived our life in the flesh. He knows all the emotions, the trials of life. Once more I ask God to forgive me from all those years ago when I told Him that He did not understand. I know I have been forgiven but I understand deeply now. Jesus knows. The Wise men bring Jesus gifts and I believe this is why we give gifts. In recent years I see gift giving differently. I have loved opening gifts and have had many moments I was sad because it was not what I had expected. When God was teaching me “to be content in all things, to be thankful and that God gives us what we need not what we want.” I felt a circumcision being performed on my heart. I felt my self absorbed ways diminishing and a desire to love as God loves me grow in its place. When Junior and I were first married I told him I wanted gifts for my birthday, Christmas and our anniversary. I had felt neglected with these holidays and I wanted to feel wanted. Junior has been faithful and supplied gifts for these special days. He has even given me gifts just because. As I felt his love the need grew less. Sometime during the days leading up to Christmas I see that the Baby Jesus grew up. I see people flocking to Him with love because He truly understood and made God’s love real. I see religious leaders resent Him and begin plotting to kill Him. I see the people excited on Psalm Sunday, the betrayal in the garden and a gruesome death. I grieve with the disciples at His passing and rejoice again at His resurrection. For me Christmas needs to be appreciated in light of Easter. I need my Savior that tiny baby born in a manger all those years ago. He is risen! He is risen indeed. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet