NOW WHAT?

Christmas is over.  Now what?  For many people, this means going back to work.  Back to the office.  Back to the ole grind of day after day after day.

Jesus was born.  The wise men were headed to Bethlehem.  King Herod was about to get very upset.  (Nothing new for him.) Matthew 2:11 says that the wise men saw “the young child with Mary his mother.”  There is no mention of Joseph.  That made me wonder why.  Where was Joseph?

Then it hit me.  Christmas was over.  Joseph was at work.

Can you imagine Joseph’s surprise when he looked up and saw wise men coming into town? There would have been support people with them.  No way were the wise men traveling by themselves.  They were busy looking at maps and stars.  They did not have time for normal things like cooking, setting up and tearing down of tents, and cleaning up behind who knows how many camels.  This would have been a parade through the streets.  People would be staring and following them.  But where were they going?  “Oh my goodness,” Joseph thought.  “They have stopped at our house.  I hope Mary is home and not at the market.”

The wise men worshipped the child, presented him with gifts, and left town.  Joseph had a dream.  By night, he took the young child and his mother and left for Egypt.

They fled to Egypt.  Now what? Joseph went to work.

Herod died and Joseph dreamed.  The family left for the land of Israel.  Joseph had another dream and they came to dwell in the city called Nazareth.

The family arrived in Nazareth.  Now what? Joseph went to work.

Other than when Joseph and Mary headed home from Jerusalem, when Jesus was 12, there is no further mention of Joseph.  Some say Joseph died and that is the reason we do not hear of him during Jesus’ ministry.

What do I think?  Joseph went to work.  He needed to take care of his family.

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I think the same thing about Jesus.  For 30 years he studied and learned.  Then one day, he laid down his carpenter tools, shook his father’s hand, kissed his mommy on the cheek, and said, “It is time for me to go to work.  I must take care of my Father’s family.”

And Jesus went to work.

 

GIFTS

There they stand.  A row of gifts.  They are not under the tree and they are not wrapped fancy.  A broken leg has changed a lot of “traditions” this year.  And that made me think.  What makes Christmas?  There are so many things — things — that are required for us to have a merry Christmas.

That Santa ornament must hang on the tree first.  Four kids and we each had one.  Mine was marked by a piece of tape that had turned yellow.  Even as an adult, that ornament was the first on the tree.  But one year I could not find it.  It was not in the ornament box.  Somewhere, in a move, that one ornament had disappeared.  Maybe it had gotten thrown out.  It was not very big and, wrapped in newspaper; it could have easily been considered trash.  And, just like that, a tradition ended.

Of course, Santa’s gifts were to be seen first.  He knew just what the kids wanted.  Presents from parents and siblings would come later, but first there was the “look at this” and “how did he know” and the “this is just what I wanted.” Our two children got married and moved to their own homes.  Santa did not come anymore.  And, just like that, a tradition ended.

The strange part is that we believe traditions will last a lifetime.  They do not.  We believe traditions must be carried from one generation to the next.  They do not.  We believe traditions cannot change.  They can.

Christmas morning begins with Bill and I getting ready to have breakfast with our daughter’s family.  We have done this for a number of years now and their four boys think we have always come for Christmas breakfast.  They believe it is a tradition.  It is now.  It is a new tradition

Only two children and six grandchildren, but finding a time to get together for Christmas is a challenge.  There is no tradition on this.  (I refuse to play the “you have to be here on __insert date___.”)  We do Christmas when the majority can be here.  This year we are doing it tomorrow — December 23rd — because that is when the grandkids decided to have it.  After the date was set, we told their parents and invited them to join us.  Some of the kids are coming early to play games, to talk, or to look at old pictures.  Some will be here later.  And, hopefully, all will be here for pizza and presents.  A new tradition?  No, but if it happens two years in a row, it will magically become a tradition and how we always did it.

What is required for us to have a Merry Christmas?  Only one thing.  Only one thing — and it does not require us to be surrounded by family or have a big meal or even a Christmas tree.  What is that one thing?  It is very simple.

What is required to have a Merry Christmas?

To BELIEVE

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

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 baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  Luke 2:10-12 KJV

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  Luke 2:21 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16 KJV

What is required to have a Merry Christmas?

To BELIEVE

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

Mary

THE PUZZLE

Another birthday gift has given me Christmas inspiration.  

Our son gave me an Advent Puzzle.  Each day I open a box and work those pieces. 

I work puzzles all year long, so why is this one worth writing about?  Because this is not about working a puzzle.  It is about a journey and this time I will work the puzzle in sections – each section leading me to the next and the next and the next, until I reach the end. 

I always think my life is a puzzle.  I sure do not know what is happening next and the pieces of my life do not seem to go together in any certain order.  I cannot find the border pieces and it is difficult to tell the real me from the reflection in the water.  AND when I think I am getting this puzzle of me put together, I realize there is a piece missing.  That is the absolute worst! 

A puzzle lays still.  The pieces just waiting to be put together, BUT in real life, not only do the pieces not lay still, the number of pieces seem to increase.  I will almost have a section completed when I meet someone new and they become a part of my life.  My life puzzle gets larger.  Or someone I care about will die and my puzzle will have a hole.  Or my puzzle will take a twist, such as a broken leg, and a whole new section is added.  Or my mind – okay, best if we don’t try to understand my mind.

Does any of this make sense to you?  If you are not a passionate puzzle person, you might not understand my analogy.  Putting together a puzzle is a process and I usually think I have the process figured out.  Life is a process and we often think we have the process figured out.  BUT often God has other plans and that is why a Christmas puzzle is an inspiration.

I think Mary’s life was pretty straight forward.  She was espoused to Joseph and they had all their plans made.  She knew exactly what would happen next.  She would move from her parent’s home into a home with Joseph.  That was the plan – until -- her life instantly became a puzzle and the pieces no longer fit together.  Gabriel, in one visit, placed Mary on an entirely different path -- a path that had never been taken.  The only instructions came when Gabriel told Mary, “No word from God will ever fail.”  With that she found puzzle piece number one:  TRUST.

After that, Mary found many pieces for the puzzling road ahead of her.  Elizabeth proclaimed “blessed is the child you will bear” and her “baby leaped in her womb.”  Mary’s second puzzle piece was AFFIRMATION.  Mary received two puzzle pieces from Joseph.  Joseph showed Mary great RESPECT when he decided to not expose Mary to public disgrace.  He also gave her SUPPORT after the angel commanded him to take Mary as his wife.

You see, the pieces we need to complete our life puzzle come from many, many sources:  Our family, friends, and church.  Our experiences and strangers.  What we see and read.  Life.  Yes, pieces are found everywhere.

AND the puzzle of my life – the puzzle of your life – is surrounded by the secure love of God.

THE ANGEL

Last week I told you that our Nativity was placed where all could see it and this year it had flowers around it.  They are to remind us that Jesus came to be with us spring, summer, fall, and winter…..   no matter what season of life we are in and to remember Jesus will still be here even after the Nativity is put back in the box.

This week I did find inspiration in another decoration.  I received an angel for my birthday and she is just the right size to fit in our dining room window.  The dining room is decorated very simply -- the angel plus some garland, a lamp, and some Christmas globes. 

  

 

I think the angel needs a name — GT.  Yes, I shall call her GT.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”       Luke 2:10 KJV

Now that she has a name, I will continue.  For some reason, maybe it is her size; the angel makes the room feel safe.  As if she is standing guard.  Wait till you see her once she is plugged in.

GT is an infinity light angel and, when plugged in, it is as if she goes on forever. 

I had this blog finished and had made a good point about being plugged into the power of God.  Then I looked closely at this next picture and that point was evident.

Do you see it?  The first angel picture shows how we look to others when we live for earthly things. They see what we have  --- wealth, possessions, family, and health.  They see what we do.  They see a reflection of the world.

BUT – that is not what people are to see in believers.  They should see the power of God.  They should see the hope and joy and peace and love that came to earth one night, when a baby was born, and placed in a manger.  A baby who came to bring the light of God into the world.  Into our souls. 

So this Christmas, plug in those Christmas lights, but first plug yourself into the one power source that will shine through you so brightly that all will see the grace and mercy and forgiveness and eternal life – all will see the light of God.

Next week?  I have already found my inspiration.  That means I will not have to puzzle over an idea.

 

THE 2023 NATIVITY

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …”  It is looking more like Christmas.  For me that means the Nativity is sitting for all to see.  We have had this set since 1965.  One sheep has a broken leg and the manger has a repaired leg, but I figure that is pretty good considering it has gone through six moves.

Do you think the setup looks a bit unusual?  Are you wondering, “Why would Mary put flowers around the nativity?”  As I began to set the Nativity in its place, I thought the fall garland looked good.  Besides, it already had lights.  It was going to stay.  The Nativity was in place.  The lights were strung.  (Don’t ya love those battery lights?).  The family, shepherd, and wise men were in place.

Then I looked at a box with some flowers to be stored.  Oh, those pink flowers were pretty.  It was then that the idea hit me.  Why not?  Next I placed some white flowers.  Then the sprigs of pine branches.  I stepped back and looked.  Perfect.  The wise men were having a conference because they were lost.  The shepherd was on his knees before a baby.  Mary and Joseph were beside the manger.  Jesus was lying in the manger.

Do I have you wondering yet?  What idea hit me?

The minute I added those pink summer flowers, the white spring flowers, and the pine branches to the fall garland the Nativity was complete.  You see, Jesus did not come just for Christmas.  He did not come for the lights or the singing or the candy or the presents.  He did not come for us to work ourselves into exhaustion getting ready for a one day, birthday celebration.  No! Jesus came for so much more.  Jesus came to be with us spring, summer, fall, and winter…..  no matter what season of life we are in.

Enjoy the decorating.  Enjoy the lights, singing, presents, and the birthday cake, but remember Jesus will still be here even after the Nativity is put back in the box.

I wonder what meaning I might find in other decorations.