I love Christmas time. I love the lights, and the bows, the decorated tree… I love the feeling in the air, its magical. I love the smell of Christmas, the fresh pine, the peppermint. I love the Christmas traditions of going to see the lights at the Setti’s, singing the 12 days of Christmas… I love the season of celebration, and there are so many reasons to celebrate this time of year, but for many it’s a time that we remember what we should be celebrating if things had gone differently. Under all the Christmas decorations there can be some deep sadness…
The other day I was thinking that my husband and I should be celebrating being pregnant and looking forward to the babies birth and being a family of 4. I would probably be somewhere in my second trimester, starting to “show”… anticipating finding out if it was a boy or a girl… thinking of a name… starting to feel the baby kick and roll around, etc. But in truth, in our loss, there is another baby to celebrate. There is reason to prepare to celebrate. Many years ago, a young mom, who was highly favored by God, carried a baby. Her life didn’t go as she had planned, but even so Mary was faithful and sought after God even when she didn’t understand. She would probably be in her second trimester as well, anticipating His arrival, preparing for His birth, and treasuring it all in her heart (because that is what Mary did). He was a very special baby, who would one day be King, who willingly left heaven to be born in a manger, who would be called the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
And as you are reading this there are probably things coming to mind of what you want to be celebrating…turn your eyes to Jesus. This Christmas season I believe that He has a gift for you that only He can give. In your time of loss, (well… even if you are not in a season of loss) take this season to reflect on Jesus and prepare yourself for the gift that He wants to give you, Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus who was born to bring joy. Jesus who was born to bring forth life. Jesus who was born so that many people would know the love of the Father and live eternally with Him. Jesus.
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