A Gift, In The Birth Of A Baby

This year, my wife and I were later than usual at decorating our home for Christmas. It was just this past week that we managed to retrieve our decorations, including out pre-lit tree, to make our home cozy and welcoming to our family and friends. Well as fate would have it, many of the lights did not work so we endeavoured to remove the labyrinth of factory strings. After toiling for almost an hour, we finally succeeded, and just in the nick of time, as we both began to become frustrated. So, we laid everything aside till the following evening.

          

While looking over the endless boxes scattered about, I realized that regardless of the lights, the trimmings, or the stress, Christmas would come. Our home would be a place of celebration marking the birth of Jesus, a baby, and our King. The first Christmas, as our pastor reminded us, was probably very quiet, with very few even noticing. There would not have been the worry over the gift list, the dinner plans, the trees or even lights that did not work. There was a select few who God probably had chosen to be there at the time of Jesus’ birth. He allowed the wise men to follow the star they had seen in the east until it stopped over where Jesus was to be born, as told in Matthew 2.

          

So here we are, some two thousand plus years later, and our world still celebrates this birth. Yes, we decorate with bright lights and festive trimmings. It should be our way of shouting that our King was born, and we are sharing Him, Emmanuel, God with us. Our home like many others will be decorated, and we will remember the true reason. When we open the door to our friends and family, they will know that Jesus is alive and well within our home. Regardless of the grandeur of the tinsel, or the number of working lights, we will be reminded that a most precious gift was given to all of us. In a couple of weeks, all of this will be again, set away for another year, yet Jesus will remain.

        

I encourage everyone who may read this to look past the lights, push past the gifts, and focus on the gift of love from God. Share love with your family, friends, and yes, strangers. Remember, Christmas is not a string of lights on a tree rather it’s a time to thank God for the lifeline to Him that Jesus represents, a gift in the birth of a baby.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca