Day 10: A Perspective of Gratitude

After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up,” the angel said, “and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus ruled over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee. He settled in a city called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 2:19-23 CEB

One of the things I particularly appreciate about the story of the birth of Jesus is the length of the narrative. Prophets had spoken details about the coming king; the life of Jesus fulfilled them. Oh how slow God is to act – in a good way! He is patient with the unfolding story.

I know this has been one of those years that we cannot wait to see finished. It helps me to read the story of Jesus and realize how small our perspective is with regards to life. Any slice of this story must have been experienced as exceedingly stressful in real time.

What if you set aside a bit of time today, and asked yourself: what if this year will someday seem like a great gift to me? What if the things I’ve learned will serve me well, and serve those I love, in the future? What if my suffering - as senseless and painful as it has been - might one day allow me to find a greater reason for living my life? These are not the questions to ask if one is in deep grief. For those in that place - these are not your questions. But for others, who are not grieving a terrible loss, these might be decent questions to consider as we wait for the birth of Christ.

Day 10: A Perspective of Gratitude

After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up,” the angel said, “and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus ruled over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee. He settled in a city called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 2:19-23 CEB

One of the things I particularly appreciate about the story of the birth of Jesus is the length of the narrative. Prophets had spoken details about the coming king; the life of Jesus fulfilled them. Oh how slow God is to act – in a good way! He is patient with the unfolding story.

I know this has been one of those years that we cannot wait to see finished. It helps me to read the story of Jesus and realize how small our perspective is with regards to life. Any slice of this story must have been experienced as exceedingly stressful in real time.

What if you set aside a bit of time today, and asked yourself: what if this year will someday seem like a great gift to me? What if the things I’ve learned will serve me well, and serve those I love, in the future? What if my suffering - as senseless and painful as it has been - might one day allow me to find a greater reason for living my life? These are not the questions to ask if one is in deep grief. For those in that place - these are not your questions. But for others, who are not grieving a terrible loss, these might be decent questions to consider as we wait for the birth of Christ.

Day 11: Practice Living Well

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and much grieving.

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she did not want to be comforted,

because they were no more.

Matthew 2:13-18 CEB

I love Joseph. Here again we see him responding in obedience to an angel from the Lord. I long to be a person who can hear, understand and then do God’s will.

We’re going to have some rather simple and clear opportunities during this holiday season to choose wisely. We will have moments when, under stress, we will decide whether to extend grace or act our frustration, especially as we wind down a difficult year. Can we find a little kindness for others?

Can we be kind to ourselves? This is different from self-indulgence. Can we continue to take time to exercise, prepare healthy food for ourselves…step away from the Christmas cookies after a modest two! I find for myself that I tend to listen and respond more appropriately when I am treating my body, mind and heart with respect. This means taking care of it. I will also need to choose whether or not I’m going to continue to practice spiritual disciplines over hiding out in my room watching Christmas movies. This year it has been easy to hide behind quarantines and zoom calls. It’s been a bit easier to disconnect.

But we have a chance to end the year reasonably well. But we cannot pretend that we are living well…we must actually practice living well. Joseph practiced. Can we?

Day 11: Practice Living Well

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and much grieving.

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she did not want to be comforted,

because they were no more.

Matthew 2:13-18 CEB

I love Joseph. Here again we see him responding in obedience to an angel from the Lord. I long to be a person who can hear, understand and then do God’s will.

We’re going to have some rather simple and clear opportunities during this holiday season to choose wisely. We will have moments when, under stress, we will decide whether to extend grace or act our frustration, especially as we wind down a difficult year. Can we find a little kindness for others?

Can we be kind to ourselves? This is different from self-indulgence. Can we continue to take time to exercise, prepare healthy food for ourselves…step away from the Christmas cookies after a modest two! I find for myself that I tend to listen and respond more appropriately when I am treating my body, mind and heart with respect. This means taking care of it. I will also need to choose whether or not I’m going to continue to practice spiritual disciplines over hiding out in my room watching Christmas movies. This year it has been easy to hide behind quarantines and zoom calls. It’s been a bit easier to disconnect.

But we have a chance to end the year reasonably well. But we cannot pretend that we are living well…we must actually practice living well. Joseph practiced. Can we?

Day 13: It Was Not a Silent Night...

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

Luke 2:1-20 The Message

Who says it better than singer/songwriter Jill Phillips, “It was not a silent night…”

And in all these things, Mary holds this experience deep in her heart. It is almost like she knows that someday she will need to remember this day in order to keep her faith. What do you need to remember? When was that time that you held something deep within yourself - is today the day you need to re-remember?