STOP!
Just for a minute, stop. Get a cup of tea, find a
comfortable chair, and sit down.
Take a deep breath.
Think of all the blessings in your life.
You are breathing.
Think of the people who make your life rich.
In your mind, name
them.
Think of sunshine on your face,
Snowflakes
on your tongue.
Think
of the joy of your salvation.
Say “Thank You”
In those days a
decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all
went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from
Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed who was with child. And while they
were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her
firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region
there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the
angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for
you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a
manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went
away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over
to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made
known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the
baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying
that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it
wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these
things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
There is
amazing economy and simplicity in the telling of the birth of Jesus. The God of
creation became one of us, was born in the normal human way, and lived among
us. Because of the miracle of this, we have hope for a life of hope and joy.
We
complicate Christmas. We have traditions to keep and gifts to buy and baking to
do, and while these are good things, they are not the main thing.
Jesus
is born. Hallelujah!
