Merry Christmas!

Mary, Joseph, & Will as baby Jesus

Will played Jesus in our church's Christmas pageant recently. I was in heaven watching my son in his first performance. He did great except he repeatedly kicked off his "swaddling clothes"- he prefers to just be in a diaper! Mary & Joseph were precious with him & did a great job too.

I couldn't help but cry throughout the show. I was able to relate to Mary in a new way. By no means do I mean to compare Will to Jesus- I realize he will never suffer for humanity like Jesus nor is he God. However, I could relate to Mary as a mother for the first time. In many ways, having given birth recently, I was grateful in a new way for hospitals and doctors and nurses and beds. Can you imagine giving birth in a cave or stable???? And not having any nurses to help? I hope for her sake that the innkeeper's wife at least showed up to help. Oh it just seems so uncomfortable- she didn't have a bathtub or a pillow or clean sheets or a nurse to help take care of the baby or her mother present to tell her what to do or help when the new baby was crying & she was exhausted & recovering. And poor Joseph must have been beside himself - I imagine he had never attended a birth and now his new wife was in excruitating pain & he had to play point man.

I related to her in a different & deeper way as well. Mary knew her son would suffer & be mocked- it's described by the prophets. I don't think she knew how or details but she knew he would face challenges. I know Will has challenges ahead in his future- unique challenges that I have never had to personally deal with. I know he will face teasing & it breaks my heart. As his mother, I so desperately want to protect him & I know I can't possibly protect him from everything he will face. And, yet, like Mary, my heart is so full- despite the challenges & fears & unknowns. My heart is overflowing with joy & love. My heart is full.

So I couldn't help but cry throughout the show as I fell more in love with a God who not ony sent His son to die for us but provides us new ways to relate to Him & His servants- new ways to make us feel less alone & full of hope.

May your Christmas be blessed & full of hope & peace. May you find new reasons to praise God this Christmas... we have!

Merry Christmas!