One Wonder of Christmas
This is the Holiday of the year when we need to pause and reflect on God's wonderful plan for mankind and the overwhelming gift of love that he displayed when he sent his son to us as a fully dependent infant. Entrusting to two people the safety and well being of His only begotten son.
Christmas has always been my favorite Holiday, even in the hard times. I haven't always had enough emotional energy to decorate. Times like those it's taken all the emotional energy that I had just to figure out why God would even love me, or why I had to experience the hard things that I was experiencing.
But, the gift of his Son has always been an easy thing for me to remember.
I've always been fascinated by babies. My sister has commented that I could sit for hours just watching one of her babies and never notice the time. How they would move, breathe, the tiny fingernails and eyelashes, I'm amazed and mesmerized. So amazed at how they arrived so fully equipped! To realize that each child is such a miracle - still today I can easily lose all track of time as I watch them stretch, yawn and sleep.
Yet, as I've watched these tiny babies, I couldn't help but wonder about God's decision to send his only son as he did. Stop and think about it for a moment. Not one child comes with a hand book telling us what this particular child needs to help them grow into the adult they are to be. God truly entrusted Mary and Joseph with his son. Today we wonder how our words and actions will impact our children for the remainder of their lives. So many times our actions good or bad are blamed on our parents sometimes by us, other times by outsiders. You know, like this phrase, "If they would have treated me differently maybe I wouldn't be sitting in jail now.
I know that God can and does direct us as we experience life. But, we choose to follow or reject his directions. I believe that choice is what makes the difference in the manner in which we choose to live our lives. The positive or negative effect we have on those around us.
This is not a comment on human will vs God's divine will. That's another discussion all on its own. One that my Heavenly Father and I have had on many occasions.
He always wins, Hm???
God knew he would be able to reach the heart and mind of his son as well as the hearts and minds of Mary and Joseph. The salvation of mankind was depending on that.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of your Holy Son. Thank you for knowing the heart and mind of each of us; for creating us each in your image. Thank you for remaining with us and guiding us through the journey of our lives. Thank you for loving us enough to care about our joys and sorrows. Thank you for reaching into our hearts and minds, for touching them and drawing them to you and your love. Forgive us when we choose to reject your direction. But, thank you for scooping us up into your loving arms when we turn around and run back to you admitting what we have done and asking your forgiveness. Amen.