Who Would Have Thought

Christmas Eve has arrived.  It’s the most unlikely of days, the most improbable of events. There was a series of happenstances, occurring in such an order that they are incredible in and of themselves. Who would have thought that a baby born so many years ago would change the world so profoundly?

A baby, a little tiny person comes into the world dependent on others for care and love. Each contains promise and potential, unique gifts and strengths. Each is important. Not for power, politics, money or prestige; not for achievements, accomplishments or awards. The King, the Alpha and Omega, the one who would save the world came as a baby. He came helpless and small, not richly but simply.

It is estimated over 350,000 babies are born each day across the world. Each of these precious little lives has worth. They do not have to be accomplished, powerful, or attaining lofty goals. The King, who was there at the start of the world, came as an unlikely herald of joy, peace, and love; announcing it quietly in a little town with the birth of a baby. Who would have thought?

A Month Old

Last night I had the opportunity to spend time with a one month old little girl. Wow – talk about a tiny little person, beautifully made. She opened her eyes and looked and me. She grinned … gas… Ah yes, infants.
Babies are so amazing, they come into this world so helpless. Over time, they learn to walk, talk, run, play, and many other things. As I held this little girl and listened to her make baby crying sounds and blow bubbles, I was thinking of the day my grandfather was in the hospital for heart surgery. It was a major surgery and serious. The heart had several major blockages, open heart surgery was going to be required.
The day of surgery, we went into the waiting room and there was quite a crowd gathered. Cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends – they were all there to lend support to each other. There were some cousins distant enough that I didn’t know who they were. An uncle sat down next to me and started explaining who everyone was. It was a comfort.
Another comfort came when a cousin handed me her baby. I believe he was a bit older than a month, but here he was sleeping in my arms. It was a comfort holding that baby, feeling the warmth and movement as he shifted in his sleep. It was a comfort because it reminded me of the cycle of life. We are born, helpless and requiring care. We grow and require instruction, nourishment, and various amounts of shoes as we outgrow them all. Then, suddenly, our shoe size evens out and we arrive at adulthood. We still grow, still need instruction and nourishment, but now we can go and seek it out for ourselves. We grow older and slowly we become less steady. We come into the world helpless, and we leave it the same way. So, I held that baby and it was a comfort, that life continues.
The little one I held last night, she is just a few days over a month old – she is beautiful. She is life going on.

A Nursery Visit

Don’t you just love nursery windows at the hospital?  A new baby that is taken to meet family and friends is held, cooed over, and adoringly held.  Every baby is precious, a new life to join the souls of this earth.  There was no nursery window, no baby shower, no maternity ward with fresh clean blankets to wrap the baby in. 

Here at the stable, Mary and Joseph have gone through the process of birth.  The stable animals are still there, Bethlehem is a busy place that night.  I would imagine that by now Joseph has cleaned up the mess of the birth, perhaps Mary has gotten some sleep, and even fed the baby.   Looking at this new baby, God’s son come in human form would have been an amazing moment. 

Then, there are shepherds that come to visit.  Not the most likely of baby shower guests or maternity ward guests gathered there.  As instructed, the shepherds went, and there they “found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger,” (Luke 2: 16).  I wonder what they talked about, was it in hushed whispers or glorious hosannas, did they try to do anything to help Mary and Joseph or were they completely overawed by what they had experienced and didn’t have a thought left.  We do know that the excitement of the events of the time had not worn off, did not dull down – instead the shepherds “spread the word” and told people what had happened.  Everyone who heard was amazed by what they heard. 

It really is an amazing story.  Have you shared it with anyone? Have you allowed God to share it with you?

A Brand New Baby

Babies are so incredibly precious.  This new life containing new experiences, new promise, new possibility – opening up their mouths and squalling for the first time, clearing their lungs.   A very pregnant Mary went with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census.  Imagine her discomfort traveling, feeling the baby move.  Then, upon arrival the town was bustling.  The inn was full, so not even a bed welcomed Mary after her journey.  Instead, it was in the stable that this family unpacked their bags and settled in. 

Can you imagine the smells, the sounds as animals were bedded down for the night.  I imagine that there wasn’t a great deal of privacy, that people were coming and going getting things and checking on their animals.  It was in that stable that Mary delivered her baby.  This baby was even more special, not only was he brand new to this world but also eternal, not only a brand new baby to Mary but also the Son of God who was around when the world was put into being. 

A humble beginning to a Godly baby; a new possibility with eternal possibility; a new promise fulfilling centuries of promise, incredibly precious indeed.

Happy Birthday to Who?

Delivery day came for Elizabeth.  She labored and gave birth to a little boy.  I don’t know about you – but in my family when there is a new baby it is a party!  Food, celebration, gathering in to welcome a new life.  It seems that for Elizabeth and John it was the same, Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives gathered in and “shared her joy.” 

As part of the Jewish tradition, John was to be taken and circumcised at 8 days old.  Everyone gathered in, this was a celebration of this new life and a time to officially introduce the baby, presenting him with his name.  It was common to name a baby boy after his father, so the people started naming the baby Zechariah.  Elizabeth spoke up and said, ‘“No!  He is to be called John,”’ (Luke 1: 60).  Elizabeth spoke up; she acted and stepped out choosing to worship God, not tradition.  Traditions are wonderful things.  They are acts which can provide a steady groundwork for us, a sense of self and culture.  They also can be binding if we allow them.  If we allow traditions to bind us, we let the traditions control us rather than making them change to meet our needs, and then they are enslaving us.  I can just imagine people looking at Elizabeth as she stepped out against tradition – an emphatic “No!”

The people tried to reason with Elizabeth. ‘“There is no one among your relatives who has that name,”’ (Luke 1:61).  Come on Elizabeth, you know the tradition.  If not Zechariah, maybe after someone else in the family?  Grandpa? Dad? Great-Grandpa?  So, then the question was passed to Zechariah. 

I wonder if this time was a sting to Zechariah’s pride?  In this very male led culture, Elizabeth was asked first.  I imagine that that had happened more and more during these nine months.  But, Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John,” (Luke 1:63). 

Oh Zechariah, how I love that you stuck with it!  Nine months of loss of voice and now he has a chance to share the experience he has reaped!  Zechariah’s lost voice came back!  He started praising God, the words flowed out.  I wonder how his voice sounded, did it sound strange to him?  Did Elizabeth smile as she listened to Zechariah speak again?

The neighbors were amazed – can you imagine the scene?  The quietness enforced on Zechariah was lifted, Elizabeth had a baby boy in her arms that no one thought she would ever have, and now I’m sure they are hearing the entire story.  Now, they started wondering and asking each other, what kind of child is this?  The Lord is already moving so powerfully in his life, and he’s only eight days old! 

Be encouraged!