It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The decorations are up and the gifts are at the base of the tree. If we’re not careful, we can let the preparation and hustle and bustle of the season over shadow the celebration of the birth of Christ. One of the ways I combat that overwhelming feeling is to sit by the tree during the quiet of late evening and reflect on the years of ornaments we’ve collected over the past 28 years. Each ornament has a special memory tied to it that marks a special occasion in our lives together.

One of this year’s ornaments is a Baby’s First Christmas, which we’ve purchased to mark the birth of our little grandson. The Lord continues to bless our grandson with good health, which in turn has blessed our whole family. Our little guy continues to amaze the doctors and nurses with the great progress he is making. We know that this is due to the rich blessings the Lord is bestowing on him. For those keeping score, our grandson has been moved to a small crib and he’s maintaining his body temperature on his own. They also have him in a room with a window so he’ll be able to get his body clock in sync with day and night. He’s also beginning to understand how to eat from a bottle as well. All these accomplishments are steps closer to him coming home to be with his parents. We’re so thankful for everything the Lord is doing for our grandson.

This time of year we also celebrate the birth of another child, born in adverse conditions. Instead of beginning born in a warm bright room, this child was born in a dark and damp stable. Instead of a crib, a manger was his bed. Although this little baby was born in the humblest of situations, he also had choirs of angels announcing his birth and important visitors from a far off country come and worship at his feet, bringing expensive gifts for him.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:8-15

Let this Christmas season be a time where you seek out this thing which the Lord told he shepherds about so long ago. This Christmas season seek out Christ and understand the beautiful gift he has for you.