Two thousand years ago a prophecy fulfills in a humble stable at Christmas:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
And they will call him Immanuel.
(“God with us”)
Matthew 1:23 NIV
An angel proclaimed this birth announcement of good news and great joy to shepherds tending their flocks nearby:
“Today in the town of David
A Savior has been born to you;
He is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in
Cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:11-12 NIV
Just as the angel said, these shepherds found the Christ child sleeping on a bed of straw with his parents Mary and Joseph in wonder and awe beside.
The shepherd and all who heard of this miraculous birth were in amazement.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19 NIV
Mary gave birth to her son named Immanuel, “God with us.”
I’m wondering in the still and quiet moments of December do we find these gifts that Mary treasured. Do we ponder the joy from the simple song of a mother’s heart,
“God with us.”
A baby who was born
To die for us;
To save us;
To live in our hearts and yes;
Be with us.
In the busy throws of shopping, celebrating and preoccupation with the holidays, is the “great joy of our Savior’s birth” being treasured and pondered? Are we in amazement as the shepherds were and spreading this good news?
This Christ child born at Christmas is the same to us yesterday, today and forever, He is always with us. (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)
Looking back at the most unpredictable year of 2020, a year that caught the world off guard and stripped so much, I’m questioning in the nakedness of the year leading to December, were we reminded of the treasures hidden in our hearts? Were we comforted in the pondering, “God is with us.”
Queuing up the video of my own life these past twelve months, inquiries into the emptiness and loss question did I open and hold onto the gift of “God is with us?”
Did I embrace these gifts that God was enough when church doors closed and saints they gathered online?
Did I allow you God to be enough during those painful weeks of lock down which didn’t allow us lonely grandparents to embrace our grandchildren?
Did we sense you “with us” and did we bloom when the reality of our next “address” caught our expectations off guard?
Did we sense you enough when children’s smiles were hidden beneath these coverings?
Lord, I had a difficult time watching our beloved mother celebrate her 80th birthday from her bedroom window. Did I sense you “with us then?”
Lord, our family had more of a difficult time saying good-by from the cold window panes peering into our mother and grandmother’s room, unable to express our love when heaven’s angels came for her.
Our final good-by remains a chapter unable to articulate, but yes God,
you were with us.
Yet, still a painful “letting go” for three generations beyond our mother’s life.
I sensed you enough God, though still wanting my mother to fill her empty chair this first Thanksgiving without her.
I admit I’m asking for a cup of contentment during a smaller Christmas gathering this year; the first time in my life that extra tables won’t be set up to accommodate our family guests.
“God be with us.”
I’m asking for an ocean full of contentment God to mask the loneliness without our Hawaiian grand-babies these last ten months.
Lord, do we need a special pair of glasses to see that you are enough?
Do we need to bring into clarity your presence in spite of what our natural eyes can or cannot see?
Forgive us God when we didn’t see you “enough” or “with us” in 2020.
Regardless of empty arms, empty hearts or empty anything, God you will always be enough.
All that’s needed in the still and quiet moments of December is for us to find those gifts that Mary treasured. To ponder and celebrate the simple song of a mother’s heart, “God with us.”
A baby who was born
To die for us;
To save us;
To live in our hearts and yes;
Be with us.
Merry Christmas and Peace Be to Everyone!