...............dusting of snow..........white on greens.............
...............blue sky, cold sun glowing through the grey.......................
.............Merry Christmas Day.............
awakening to a picture postcard perfect day...........
..................gifts under the tree, stockings overflowing, bacon sizzling, coffee fragrant in large ceramic mugs......
thoughts of Christmas' past and people who've touched our lives and the mother missing this holiday but celebrating His birthday with Him.......
and thoughts of our sleeping teen girls.....past images running through the mind of scampering little feet, busy hands tearing paper and bows, squeals of laughter high and low...........
and this picture postcard perfect day feels complete.
Yet......
...........the need to remind of the real meaning pervades my thoughts.
We are blessed but it's by His grace.
Grace.
That concept that so many Christians, my self included, take a life time to learn and practice.
A picture postcard perfect Christmas day includes the lit tree, the blessing of good food, family, gifts for one another, a dusting of snow on the ground, warmth and shelter, a Bible open.............you know.....the images that Hollywood or Norman Rockwell have conjured up for us.
But the picture perfect scene is sometimes missing a key component in so many homes....the Christ Child seen as Redeemer.
He was born in a stable. In filth. To a very young mother and father. Among animals. In a MANGER....a place where the food belongs. Where animals ate.
with strangers gaping at him....shepherds who were lowly servants of the dumbest animals..........
It was not a picture postcard perfect setting. Mary didn't have sterile surroundings and nurses at her beck and call.
and yet......this baby is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
This baby is the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father.
He is everlasting..............and He died a brutal death.
He was stripped, beaten, punished, killed. For us. For all of our sins.
Not a picture postcard scenario.
He came to give us Life! We can have freedom in Him because of his mercy.
Because of Grace.
grace......the embracing of that simple word brings us a peace inside. A joy.
and we can experience a picture postcard perfect intimacy with a Person who will always be there for us. He embraces us when we embrace Him and accept that perfect Gift. (this doesn't mean we will have a perfect life. But we CAN have perfect peace!)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" ~Ephesians 2:8~
He redeems us like Boaz redeemed Ruth, like a master redeemed a slave. He extends grace......
"Jesus Christ is what God does, and the cross where God did it."
~Frederick Buechner~
do you want a picture postcard perfect peace with mercy and grace extended?
Meet Him at the cross......
2 comments:
What a wonderful post! This was perfect for me to read after Christmas was not, for me, the "best" Christmas I've ever had, having nothing to do with gifts or food or even family. During my "down times" I tried to pull my heart back to the real meaning, why we celebrate, what God has done for us. And when you really truly know it, you thank God for sending his Son. The way He sent him. So humble.
Beautiful post bringing us to what Christmas is really all about.
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