Christmas is quickly approaching and I've seen some beautiful light displays all throughout the county. With the light displays are now those blow up holiday critters. I've seen penguins wearing cute Santa hats and scarves in a snow globe. I've seen Frosty the snow man, I've seen lots of Santa with his reindeer ready for take off or just landing. I've even seen Snoopy and Woodstock in Christmas decor!
Yes all that is very cute and brings a smile to many people as they pass. But what about the true meaning of Christmas? Love?!
My darling husband and I were having a conversation the other day after we had had a heated discussion. It had finally calmed down and apologies were made and excepted (that's right folks I don't have the perfect marriage nor are we always happy). He likes to leave off a fight/misunderstanding on a good note. But I feel he's buttering me up! haha! Anyway, while he was "buttering me up" he began to tell me things he's thankful for. In the midst of his thankfulness speech his spoke these words: "Thank you for loving me everyday, I know you don't have too. You could have loved anybody, but you love me." I was stunned. I didn't listen to anything else he had to say after that point as I mulled over the significance of these words.
I guess I took it for granted that I choose to love my husband everyday. But he doesn't. He showed real humility as he spoke this. True understanding of free will love. How many times a day do we take for granted so many things? Water? Food? Heat? Shelter? Love? Sometimes I go about my day and never even realized I made a conscience choice to love my husband or my son. Maybe it comes out naturally or maybe I forget, with all the busyness, to really, really love them. To take a good hard look and appreciate all I have. This brings to me another question: If I treat my husband and son as such how do I treat Jesus, who I cannot see?
Jesus is coming again but not as he once came. His first decent to earth was in the most vulnerable of positions. A baby. Since I've recently become a mother I have seen how helpless a baby is and how much they HAVE to depend on their caregiver. Not that I mind at all taking care of my little boy. But the king of the world, the one who is exalted in heaven and earth, came as small wee babe and was born in a barn...how clean. Not. The nurse in me cringes when I think of how sterile the place must have been. My point is Jesus came to earth quietly when he could have just come riding in the clouds and people would have recognized him as the Son of God and believed in him. He chose the hard way so he could truly understand us. He became human. He knows what its like to live in the flesh, though he remained sinless. He loves us EVERYDAY. He knows our weakness. He forgives our failings. He loves our brokenness. He is our strength.
Christmas is about humility. Jesus even said in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Christmas is about Love. Vulnerability. Hope. Joy (who isn't hopeful or joyful when a child is born?)
Jesus didn't have to love us or be born as a baby. He could have come any way he chose. He could have only picked certain people to love. But he loves us. He has free will love too. I'm going to choose to love as Jesus loved. With humility and gentleness.
This holiday season, don't take love for granted. I encourage to love as Jesus loves. Even though many may be undeserving. We are undeserving of his love and forgiveness which was demonstrated on the cross. Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!