Ah, December 1st….we are entering a month full of
activity, celebrations and emotional remembrances. Off the top of my head, I think
of our three granddaughters - Elizabeth, Rylie, and Madielynn, our son - Joshua,
and two friends all celebrating birthdays this month. It's also the birthday month
of my daddy and paternal grandfather, both long gone. Our son and
daughter-in-love – Kevin & Teddi - celebrate an anniversary. We journey off
on a mission trip. The calendar is filling with activities. The highlight for
Christian believers is the birthday celebration of Jesus!
Along the way…life happens. Babies are born, loved ones die,
bills still need to be paid, employers expect you to show up, dinners cooked,
laundry washed, vehicles filled with fuel and the long list of everyday life
activities marches on. The highlight for Christian believers is the birthday
celebration of Jesus!
There is an air of magical excitement when you drive down
residential streets looking at houses covered in lights. Sitting in a dark room
lit only by a decorated Christmas tree is special, too. Many a memory have I
mulled around in my head doing just that. Stores play Christmas music,
decorations fill aisle after aisle, and people act a little bit nicer to one
another. The highlight for Christian believers is the birthday celebration of
Jesus!
Among the pretty packages and expectations of children are
the people walking around without the glint of excitement the season brings.
They think of the next meal, a warm place to sleep, money to keep the electricity
on in the house they hope to hang on to a little longer, a job, the loss of the
American Dream and many other issues that cloud their thoughts and hopes.
Sometimes they forget the highlight for Christian believers is the birthday
celebration of Jesus.
On a dark night over two thousand years ago, a young woman
birthed Christmas in a cold stall. She bore the gift of Hope, conceived by the
Holy Spirit, and the ultimate gift to humankind by a loving Father. There were
no bright colored lights, no carols filling the air, no peppermint sticks, or
jolly men in red suits. Yet, the most beautiful gift ever given was wrapped in pieces
of cloth and lay in a trough animals ate their dinner from earlier than evening. An
ordinary night when an extraordinary event provided the reason for the season
upon us. The highlight for Christian believers is the birthday
celebration of Jesus.
Hope was born that night. Hope still burns bright. God gave
us a reason for hope, we need to share that reason with those that do not know
it exists or feel it in their hearts. It's not just the homeless or the
struggling that need this gift. Those with expensive fancy packages tied in
pretty ribbons might be as seriously in need. You can't drown out a hopeless
heart by singing carols louder. The best gift we can give this year is to share
our gift of hope with everyone we see. You never know who needs it. When you
share your gift of hope it doesn't diminish, it multiplies! The highlight for
Christian believers is the birthday celebration of Jesus!
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