Good Tidings of Great Joy

Merry Christmas! I can't believe it has been a whole year since last Christmas. Christmas has forever been changed for me. Last night as I went to sleep I thought about Mary. I thought about the baby boy who was entrusted to her care, but was really not hers, but rather the world's. I thought about that night in the manger that she met her little boy for the first time. And as my heart started to ache a little, I thought about how Mary's heart must have felt when she knew her little boy's life on earth was coming to an end…when she, like I did, felt the physical pain of separation from a child she loved so much. Like her, I had some foresight that the time my little boy had on earth would be short, but it does not lessen the ache in my heart and I am sure did not lessen hers. I love this precious mother so much more now that I can relate to some of her deepest feelings. Of course she is and always will be far greater than I, for she was amazing enough to be chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world. And I love her for that as well.

Near the end of Christ's life on earth, his Father also had to experience the pain of separation as he withdrew himself from his precious Son to allow him to fulfill the law and suffer all of our pains, heartaches, sins, and disappointments. How broken our Father must have felt to not be there at that time. This shows me that Christ's life-his birth and his death-are so very important. Because any parent that has the power to be with a child-or save them from pain-would definitely use that power. Unless there was something much greater at stake, unless there was an even greater love on the line. And because Heavenly Father loved all of us-his other children, so much, he left his little boy alone to do the task that no other could do.

And because of all this, Christmas for me means Love. It is the love of a mother for her baby. It is the love of a Father for every single one of His children. It is the love I feel for my little family made eternal only through Jesus Christ who came to earth as a tiny babe.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:7-14

May you also feel the Love that Christmas brings. Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
(Pictures of Jax's first Christmas will come later)