It’s December! It’s been an eventful month with school concerts,
parties, carolling and Christmas events.
We also had my parents visit us and excitedly celebrated
Eliana’s 11th birthday.
She
was our Christmas baby.
After writing a short piece for our church advent devotional, I wanted to incorporate some of it here too in the hope that it would encourage you at this busy time of year.
Around the time of all my children’s birthdays, I usually remember
back and reflect on the events that surrounded their birth.
I was recently reminded of when I went into labour with Tobi and
when the unexpected occurred… I needed an emergency c-section! The medical staff spun into action around me,
making the journey from delivery room to surgery fast.
Rushing is necessary
sometimes!
As we approach Christmas Day, and remember our Saviour’s
birth, I am again reminded of the events leading up to His birth.
As Mary rode uncomfortably on the donkey’s back, there must
have been a sense of urgency, to get to Bethlehem as quickly as possible.
I imagine, upon arrival, the climate intensified as they
kept being turned away, searching for a place to stay.
“There’s no room here” yet another innkeeper replied.
“Please hurry Joseph” Mary’s eyes pleaded in panic.
“I’m trying Mary… ” Joseph quietly soothed, desperately
racing to knock on the next closed door. “We need a room quickly.”
Reflecting on my own life, I can identify with those “rushing”
moments of medical emergencies, racing through airports to make connecting
flights, border-runs, visas needing urgent approval, Christmas shopping… the
list goes on.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
(Luke 2:19 NIV)
Despite the urgency of Mary’s situation, we read that she
had this beautiful way of treasuring things in her heart, of remembering, and
thinking about them deeply. Through the
unexpected twists and turns of her life, Mary slowed down enough to pause… to
think and to consider.
Maybe her mind couldn’t fully make sense of all God had
planned, but instead of doubting what He was doing, she remained full of faith,
trusting God through the ‘unknowns’ that lay before her.
And so, this Christmas 2017 years on, I must remind myself again
to stop rushing about and to simply treasure
in my heart the most amazing, generous, miraculous gift of Jesus.
Even through my
doubts and uncertainty I choose to remain full of faith and trust in God
through the unknowns in life. As we head
into the New Year, let us ponder God’s good gift of grace and forgiveness.
The Blessings of peace, the beauty of hope, the spirit of love, the comfort of faith…
May these be your gifts this Christmas Season.
With much love from Andrea (and the rest of the Cross
family: David, Tobiah, Eliana and Spencer).
