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. (Luke 2:7)
I have four children. Each of them are different from one another. They have different likes and dislikes; dreams and goals. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what their lives would be like today as I held them then.
I can only imagine the joy that Mary felt when she delivered Jesus in that stable and held him for the first time. A perfect being born in an imperfect world to save sinners. That was His destiny. That was what He came to earth to do. Redeem.
Never before and never again would there be such a birth. This baby, whose birth we celebrate each year, was the single most important treasure this world would ever know, yet for so many, it has become a season of trying to outdo last year, desperately seeking to display more spectacular decorations and frantically cramming as much unnecessary stuff in stockings and under a tree as is humanly possible. Forget it! You will never top the first Christmas, nor will you ever find a gift more perfect than the one that God gave us that morning.
Only when she held that baby for the last time did she truly understand the sacrifice. He was sent here to die for us, for our sins. She said "yes" to God and watched as that baby hung and died on the cross for all mankind. She stood in horror as they nailed His hands and feet to what would become a symbol throughout the world for the bridge that was built for us. In her own personal nightmare came the salvation promised Adam and Eve.
She could never have known what that child would become. None of us know what our children will become. We can hope and we can pray. We can raise them with the best of intentions - but God's plan for each of them stretches farther than our imaginations. A mother's love transcends all other love, except for the love of God!
Mary saw a baby - a tiny bundle of joy - she held Him, nursed Him, cared for Him, taught Him, and loved Him with all of her heart. She watched as He taught others, fed others and cared for others - in a way that she could never have imagined. He still loves us with all His heart!
Jesus continues to teach, to feed and to care for all those who call on His name. He lifts us up in times of heartbreak and comforts us in our sorrows. He wants all of us to remember the sacrifice He made for each and every one of us. Will there be room in your heart this year for the gift He gives???
