To
get caught-up in the glitter of Christmas is easy, with all the decorations and
lights. The new movies this year, along with some of the old ones, make for a
wonderful lazy day or a “feel good” afternoon. It certainly does something to
me. My heart feels lighter and full of joy. However, this year, well it is a
little different. I still love the glitter of Christmas but something is
missing.
The Hallmark movies, although enjoyable, are not capturing Christmas for me. I have found myself frantically looking for it. There is something, better yet, Someone, missing. It is Jesus. It is His story. Hallmark is full with stories of newfound love. What about the “old” (for lack of a better word) love? The one shown to us many years ago? Our hearts soar at the idea of two people finding their way to each other. What about a Father who sent His very own Son for all people simply because He loved them? Do our hearts soar for that? We find whimsical love stories more believable and enjoyable than one of a loving Father willing to give us His Best.
I settled down on the couch with a blanket in anticipation of a Hallmark afternoon. Or, so I thought. I needed to feel Christmas. Not just, see it. I was not looking for the “feel-good” aspect of it. I was looking to feel the real part of it. With my whole heart, I asked God to show me Christmas. That is exactly what He wanted to do. Am I ready for it? Oh Lord, I hope so!
Time
had come for Mary’s baby to be born. This was her first baby, therefore, she
had no idea what to expect. My guess is she felt somewhat frightened. (I know I
did.) Had she heard stories from others of their experience? Did her mother
tell her anything at all? Or, was she too ashamed of the pregnancy to prepare
her? When Mary went to visit Elizabeth (who was “well along in years”) had they
shared their concerns and fears of what the actual delivery would be like? Of
course, Elizabeth was full of joy finally being pregnant, so perhaps she never
thought of the actual giving birth. But, Mary? She had not even experienced a
marital relationship, so she definitely did not know what to expect. Fear had to be felt that night. How could it
not be?
Had
she imagined her baby would be born in a place like this? After all, the angel
had told her, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High”
(Luke 1:32). She was not giving birth to simply a sweet new life; she was
giving birth to the Son of the Most High, God. This changed everything. Perhaps
her labor pains were intense enough that where she gave birth didn’t really
matter. The anticipation of finally holding
this little life growing inside her had to be high. What color would his eyes
be? What about the color of his hair? Better yet, what will the Son of God look
like? Fear
and anticipation held hands that night. Fear of the pain possibly ahead and
anticipation of seeing the Christ child. Her heart was full!
I
haven't seen any movies capturing this story, true story, at all. (Maybe I’m
looking on the wrong channel.) The nativities displayed even seem to feel a
little cold and distant, as if it were just a story that had never been true. Where
is Christ this Christmas? I desperately wanted to know.
The
wise men went looking for Him. “Where is He that is born King of the Jews”
(Matthew 2:2). Because they were looking…they found Him! That is what I had to
do. I had to search for Him. It was up to me to find Him this Christmas. Jeremiah
29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find
Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jesus
was there all along. He had not left the scene of Christmas; I had overlooked
Him. Now when I look at the lights (even with the colored ones) on my trees (yes,
I have more than one), I imagine the stars in the sky that perfect night
the Messiah was born. I think of Mary and the anticipation she must have felt
waiting to hold this perfect life that had been growing inside her. I think of
Joseph, wide-eyed in wonder of it all. I even think of the animals in the
stable (what were they even thinking?). The angels surely anticipated seeing
what the One who had lived with them in heaven would look like in flesh. Then I
think of the Father. His plan for our redemption was just beginning on earth.
The Way to Him was being born. How could I not think of those things?
It
is up to us to look for Christ in Christmas...open your eyes because He is
there!
In awe of Him,
Vonda
