Thoughts on Christmas

Christmas is my favourite time of the year.... I love everything (except the traffic) about it. I do wish I were wealthier so I could give more but I'm not, so, well. Here are some random thoughts, some were thoughts I had and have heard sermons on them recently. Most of what I share could hardly be called amazingly original, but they are things that touch me.

I'm stunned by the baby king. I love to hold babies. They are so incredible, they are weak and they are strong. They smell good, they fascinate me. What great God would chose to send His son as a baby, who would he pick to trust with this. Who was Mary? I mean, she had to be special to be chosen, but then, couldn't be too special. Meek, mild, trusting. What about Joseph? Even before the angel came he was trying to do the right thing. I'm sure he was overwhelmed. Was it an arranged marriage? Did he love her? Was she beautiful, what drew him to her?

Imagine Jesus' siblings? You think your parents favor your older siblings, imagine trying to follow in Jesus' footsteps? "Jesus didn't act like that!" "Why can't you be more like Jesus?" LOL, what was the toddler Jesus like? Were there the terrible two's, you would think without a sin nature that would be the terrific two's. I could go on and on about this one, just thinking about my own children and their developmental milestones and wondering what it would have been for Mary.

The angel visits. I really can't imagine. I believe there has been an angel in my house when my mom was ill. I didn't see it, my dad did. I believe they are around. But I can't imagine what Mary saw. And we have the benefit of reading the Bible on a regular basis and knowing that angels appeared throughout, but they did not have that. Just faith. Faith. Would I have that? To hear that I was about to have a baby and name him Jesus?

The shepherds. Again, uneducated more than likely, but that doesn't refer to their character. Because they too had the faith to go see. They were chosen. The king came to earth, born in a manger, for us. The shepherds, the poor, the weak, the down trodden. Yes, there were wise men, who were truly wise, because the heard the voice of God to not return to Herod. They brought gifts. I'm sure that Mary "pondered" these things over the years: angel visits, shepherds, wise men, being on the run." Her child survived but many did not because of Herod. We could make a case, better one baby die than many, but then we would lose our Lord. Much grieving over this baby.

I love the children at Christmas.... magical thinking about Santa, reindeer, and what they understand of Jesus. We create the greed, not the kids. We create unreal expectations for ourselves. This year we did things much simpler around the house and it was less stressful for me. The most squealed over gifts were bubble wrap and Toy Story sunglasses but the others were well appreciated. It's fun to give. It's fun to receive. The only ones that frustrate me are when we throw out all these presents, everyone opening at once and no one really enjoying what is going on.

This morning at church we did Lessons in Carols, scripture readings and songs. It was great. I had seen Twisted Sister do Oh Come All Ye Faithful last night.... even the rocks cry out was all I could think of.

Merry Christmas.... may you find joy in all those around you and extend the love of God to others. May we have the faith displayed by those in the story and worship the baby King. And may be always remember what was done for us.

Breta

Fish Tanks

This may shock a few of you, but I kill things. Not people, but a case could be made for that as well. No, I kill plants and fish. A lot of them. I now have an empty tank in my living room. Well, not exactly empty, it has water and rocks, just no fish. Seemed pointless after the last one died.

Today I went to a salt water fish store. It was incredible. Not even just the fish, the rocks are alive. The tanks were filled with beautiful things, all waving at me. I could have stayed for a very long time, but I had to be somewhere.

I guess, yet again, I was stunned with the beauty of creation. What creator does such detail. I mean, this stuff is under water, who cares? Who was there to see for so many thousands of years? He could have gotten away with just sand, but no, he did a whole thing just for under the water. Not just a few things either, and the rocks are crawling with creatures. How incredibly awesome it was.

Of course, this is the creator that brought us a saviour in the form of a baby. He didn't have to do that either.

What love.

In awe,
Breta