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I love Christmas. But even as my family was driving to Orlando last night, we couldn’t help but notice how things were different this year. The usual fuss of lights, decorations, presents, and church services, had faded. Instead there was a calm. We opened most of our presents Christmas Eve before church, something I’ve never done so I felt like I was “cheating”. We went to church as a family, and came home. To me Christmas has had a different look this year.
I decided to look at it from a different perspective, the angels. I was sitting at the Christmas Tree and Jake shared this awesome point about how we always say “Jesus is the greatest gift ever given our saviour, our only hope”. Its all totally true. But what did the angels say? “You have no idea what we’ve given up, you have no idea what we’ve sacraficed.” I can only imagine its like trying to share with someone the same joy you feel about something, and If they haven’t experienced themselves, there is no why they can feel the joy.
It stuck with me, in such a huge way! I couldn’t imagine, being up in heaven and hearing God say, “Jesus is going to save the world, he’s going to save the world as a baby that grows into a man, all while fully trusting in me. He’s leaving us, but he’ll be back.”
I think what gets me the most is that when the angel was talking to the shepards in the field and then the skies were filled with a heavenly host, my goodness, how incredible that mustve been! If I could see one thing from when Jesus was on this earth, that would be it. I think thats becuase the awe of how big our God is just leaves me speechless. And how even as a human, the angels gathered to worship him. As a baby, they came together to bow before him.
I think Christmas has left me at a loss for words on the outside, with so much more going on inside. Thats ok though. Honestly, the presents, “Christmasy parties”, decorations, etc. didn’t even catch my eye this year. I’m thankful, but instead I’ll remember sitting in a church service with my whole family, I can’t remember the last time we did that. I’ll remember Christmas eve dinner with my mom and KC, sushi =). And I’ll remember sitting with Grandma today and talking.
This year I’m looking to the skies. Merry Christmas. I hope yours was as blessed as mine, inside and out.
_T
Luke 2:9-15
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
