Reminiscing Over Christmas

Ah, childhood memories of Christmas. It still brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart when I think of sitting by the tree with just its colorful lights blinking while I looked upon the Nativity scene that was placed underneath it each Christmas. My mind would try to grasp the wonder of the arrival of the Christ child. My heart would be overwhelmed with joy and peace as I thought on the fact that he was born for me.

His birth was a lowly birth. At the manger scene, initially, there was no fanfare or grand welcome. Maybe some animals were milling around, yet possibly even they were a bit disturbed at the commotion as strangers invaded their space and Mary went into labor. Was the birth an easy one? Was it a quiet night for Mary and Joseph? Were Mary and Joseph a bit perturbed at the inadequate accommodations? Maybe not everything was as serene as we are led to believe, at least outwardly, yet with the reassurances of the angel's messages there had to have been a calming effect inwardly that all would be well. Jesus, a Savior was being born and had been conceived in a miraculous way by the Spirit of God (Matthew 1:20-21). Now, Immanuel, God with us, was on the verge of arriving into the world (Matthew 1:23)!

Upon Christ's birth there had to have come a great measure of joy and relief for those proud parents. The road, both literally and figuratively, had not been easy to this point. Joseph and Mary had subjected themselves to ridicule by carrying on with their betrothal (Matthew 1:18-19). Traveling to Bethlehem in the condition Mary was in at
9 months of pregnancy, and in the conditions during that time of year, would most likely have been somewhat treacherous, and certainly, long and difficult (Luke 2:1-5). Now, all of that was behind them, for now, at the birth of their little baby, Jesus!