A Baby Like No Other

   

             I love the Christmas season, and I enjoy creating a festive house. Fresh poinsettias are bought on Black Friday weekend as the decorations begin. Christmas wreaths, candles, and the wooden reindeer my Dad made are dug out of storage tubs. Cheerful linen is pulled from its bin; this year the kitchen table is adorned with my grandmother's vintage tablecloth. Bright red ribbons and pine cones adorn the cloth. 

            My ruby red dishes, given by my Mom and Aunt for a wedding present 35 years ago, come out each year as I make the house burst with color and fun. The Christmas tree is decorated with a star at the top.

             There has to be a star. Always. 

             But at the forefront of our Christmas decorations every year is a nativity scene. Years ago, I was thrilled to find a nice ceramic nativity set at a warehouse store for $20. Every year the box is pulled from the attic and the figurines are  placed  on display. Little strands of lights highlight the manger scene as it sits on our buffet. With the busyness of the Christmas season, it is easy to get lost in our preparations and lose the reason we celebrate: the birth of Christ. The manger serves as a reminder to all who enter our home why we celebrate this season, and it helps to keep us focused, too. It's not about the money we spend, the gifts we wrap, or the decorations. It's about that baby in the manger from long ago. 

            One of my favorite modern-day Christmas songs is Mary Did You Know? I love its simplicity. This song gives us profound reminders of who that baby was in Mary's arms—Lord of all creation and heaven's perfect Lamb. He "walked where angels trod," yet here was a newborn lying in a feeding trough in a stable. He would walk the earth later to give sight to the blind, to walk on water, and to calm the raging storm. This baby was like no other. 

            The star revealed the way to Jesus, and the wise men followed its light. That's why I love the star on my tree as a reminder. God sent His son as a light for us. When we find and follow Jesus, He illuminates the right path for our life. Wise people still follow Him today. 

            It all started at the manager when the Lord of all creation came to earth to walk where we walk and to live where we live. His life on earth would end with the ultimate sacrifice—death—for all mankind on the cross. The humility of His sacrifice is astounding. All because His love for us cannot be measured.

            In our busyness, may we never forget the true meaning of this Christmas season. 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world.

If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness,

because you will have the light that leads to life,"

(John 8: 12, NLT).

(C) 2015 Carin G. LeRoy, All rights reserved.  


If you would like to hear the song, Mary Did You Know, here's a beautiful version from the TV series, The Bible.  It is sung by CeeLo Green. Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z-ZfAlrgJs