True Christmas

Luke 2:5-7  "He (Joseph) went there (Bethlehem) to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." NIV

      Lord, You are teaching me the most important reason for Christmas this year as You have done in the past.  We have had so many unconventional, non-Hallmark Channel movie Christmases in our lives together, and when we have, the true meaning has been made clear to us.  It is celebrating Your birth...nothing else.

      Our plans are not Your plans.  Our plans were to fly to family 2 days before Christmas to have Pre-Christmas "fun" with them.  However; severe weather in the Southeast is preventing that.  Two aborted flights later, Dick and I will be spending Christmas Eve, and possibly the whole Christmas holiday, alone here.  Of course we are disappointed, but must yield to Your plan, not ours as we have no choice.

      I do praise You, Lord for Your foresight keeping us out of that weather, and we pray for all those who suffered so much damage from tornadoes, flooding, and of course totally aborted Christmas plans for them and their families.  We pray for all of those who are grieving because of loss of loved ones, the first responders and all those other Public works workers who will now work through their holiday doing the cleanup.

       I pray, Lord, for all those who are serving our country in the military here and abroad who cannot spend this Christmas with loved ones, for the police, EMTs, Firemen, and all of the hospital workers who cannot have the time off with family and are dealing with tragedies over these days.

      We are so blessed to have food, shelter, warmth, and utilities in our little home.  You had none of that except a crude cave to be born in.  We are safe and sound, and still have the hope we may be able to travel tomorrow.  We have telephone service so we can call the family and share in their Christmas Eve times too.  You and your earthly parents had none of that.  I have my beloved here with me, and I thank You for that too.  There are many widows and widowers out there who are alone.

      Your gift to us is the most important reason to celebrate!  I could allow disappointment to ruin the celebration and get depressed and miserable.  But I personally choose to let go of my plans, celebrate as I can and rejoice in Your unsearchable gift of salvation and the hope we have because of it.  After all, it is Your Birthday Celebration...not mine; even if You may have been born on a different day of the year...so Happy Birthday, Jesus, and thank You for being willing to be born as a human baby knowing full well that it meant Your human death years later as our perfect sacrifice for OUR sins, not Yours.

      So, it is not about presents, special foods, or even being with the ones we love that makes Christmas wonderful.  It's remembering and praising You!