Christmas Joy

And suddenly two became three.  I still remember vividly the moment it went from just my husband and I to a family of three.  The birth of our daughter was infinitely precious to us.  I cannot imagine the joy that our Mother Mary  and Joseph must have felt upon the birth of Jesus.  To hold and cuddle the Christ Child and kiss the face of God….

Whenever, I think of Jesus’ birth I wonder how much of God’s plan did Mary know? Did she realize in those early moments that her baby had come to save the world?  Or did she look at him, as I have looked at each of my own children and see only the blessing that the gift of his life was in that moment and wonder about where his path would lead him in life?

Each year, the feast of the Nativity reminds us of the greatest gift that we have been given.  The birth of a Savior and the chance to renew our relationship with God and draw closer to him.  The promise that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  A God who loved us so much that he gave his only son for each of us.  What an amazing gift we have received and continue to daily be blessed by.

We also received the gift of role models in parenthood.  Mary and Joseph were people just like us and yet because of their own obedience to God’s will they were blessed to be the parents of the Savior.  They experienced the combination of joy and trepidation that comes with parenthood.  They demonstrate for us how to place God first in our lives and to seek his will not only for ourselves but for our children as well.

The Nativity feast has  in the past few years taken on new significance for me as I feel that it is through being a mother to my children I have grown the closest to our Father in heaven.  I struggle daily with how to guide my children in making the right choices while still respecting their free will and individual personalities.  I ache when I see them hurt and am joyous when they succeed. I try to treasure every moment I spend with them even though I am all to often guilty of not using that time as wisely as I can.  I find that non important things often get the priority and lately have found myself greatly saddened by a feeling of too little time.  I see our time with them at this stage passing by in the blink of an eye.  I wonder is this the way that God feels when he watches our lives?  Does he wish that we would spend more time with him in prayer and reflection sharing our burdens and our success?

So on this the birthday of the King or Kings and Prince of Peace may everyone rejoice in the promise that was wrapped in swaddling and laid in a manger.  May we take time from our worldly presents and reflect on where God is leading us in the next year.  For those of with children, may we seek his guidance in helping them find their own path and serve as role models for them by living our lives so that we are his light in the world.  May we pray for those persecuted for their faith that they may know the comfort of his love and  that he send a  champion to protect them.  May we remember that each of us is a child of God and that he is our biggest cheerleader but also our hardest taskmaster, for he knows each of us as individuals and just like our worldly parents only wants whats best for us.

Merry Christmas!  Christ is Born!  Glorify Him!