Joseph [and Mary] went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David… While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ~ Luke 2:4,6

I can remember a little over 4 years ago our excitement as we anticipated the birth of our daughter Savannah. We would talk about what she was going to look like. We talked about if she would be a boy or a girl, we didn’t find out until she was born. (We both were hoping for a girl). There was a sense of excitement that came along with having a child, but there was also fear.  

We had already had Trey and we were very comfortable in our lives. A second baby was going to change our comfort level. We were just starting to get 7-8 hours a sleep again, but that was going to change. Trey had been the center or our lives for the previous 2 years and that was going to change for him. As parents, we were going to go from two-on-one to man-to-man defense. Despite the fears and the uncertainty that we faced, we also had much joy.  

As Becca’s due date came closer so did uncomfortable nights. The excitement of the day that we would meet our child grew and grew, just like a little child waiting for Christmas, but the day the doctor guessed that Savannah would be born came and went, and she didn’t come. It would be like telling a child that Christmas is on December 25 only to wake up on the 25 and be told you will have to wait another day or two. The excitement of waiting slowly started to fade and the discomfort for Becca continued. As one day turned into two and two into a week, we wondered if this little person inside Becca was ever going to come out. As we passed the 10 days late point, the joy of waiting had all but disappeared. We just wanted the baby to come out so we could meet her. Because we were done waiting, we tried all of the old wives tails you could think of, running, walking, cleaning, walking up stairs, we even started going to certain restaurants that had labor inducing salads or pizza.  Nothing worked. As we were approaching 14 days late, our doctor said that we would have to induce if she didn’t come on the 14^th day. 

On day 13 with no signs of labor we had all but given up on Savannah coming on her own and started to prepare for induction the next day. It was that night that Becca went into labor. Savannah came the next day and all of the discomfort and pain that Becca had gone through seem to fade with the joy that Savannah’s birth brought us. 

Often in our lives we don’t like to wait. We want things to hurry and get here. We are so ready for the end to arrive that we forget to enjoy the journey along the way. With just one week left until we celebrate Christmas, it won’t be to long before stores forget about Christmas and point us to Valentine’s Day. Let’s us not rush through Advent, let us enjoy what time we have left as we anticipate with great joy the coming of our savior. Let us enjoy time with our family and friends and truly savor the moment, and not just rush through the motions. Because if we take a step back and take in our surroundings, who knows where joy might come this Christmas season?

We all have Christmas memories of one sort or another.  Mine, from childhood, are rich and sweet, and centered by church.  We'd begin Christmas Eve with a light family dinner and then be off to church for an early service when I was very little or an 11:00 p.m. service when I was a little older.  There was something mysterious, and almost magical, about going to church in the dark of the night.  We'd bring the candles used in the candlelight service home, light them again and put them on the windowsill. This was to say to the world that our home welcomed Jesus, I was told.  Because my father often worked on Christmas Day, we'd open presents under the tree on Christmas Eve.  During my few Santa-believing years, we were told that Santa came to our house first because he knew this about us!  Not a bad way to think of things when you're four years old—as if God could bend to meet your family's needs.  Stockings were for Christmas morning, along with some of those Christmas cookies that sat in rows between wax paper in that great big cookie tin.  Those of us still at home would go again to church for a Christmas morning service, seeing church friends again. There was usually snow on the ground and time to play with new toys.  Then we'd have a nice dinner when my father came home from work and a visit with grandparents living nearby.  Nothing extravagant in this simple Christmas, just reliable ritual, caring family, the security and home of church, and a story that made sense of the world.

These are sweet memories. 

As years passed, I realized that Christmas is not so sweet for everyone.  Sadness at loss, worry over too little money for presents or for food for a table, concern over illness, homelessness, injustice and more can steal joy from many.  Seeing so many give so much to others at this time of year, even welcoming some who are alone into their homes, and yet Christmas is still a mixed experience for many, like so much of life.  Christmas brings both the sweetest and the saddest into view. 

Strangely enough, maybe this mixed quality of Christmas is part of what keeps Christmas Christian in the end.  For every time we rightfully wear our buttons or pass an email around that says we oughta "Keep Christ in Christmas," or "Remember the Reason for the Season," we're actually recognizing this truth.  For the Christ we remember at Christmas came to us from a worried and temporarily homeless mother.  He was born into political intrigue that would force his family to become refugees for a time.  And he brought angels who made people afraid.  And yet he was also born into loving arms, was recognized by strangers as the wonderful gift that he was (and is), and gave the same angels reason to sing. 

This Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Holy Child of Bethlehem, Savior of the World, Little Child of Mary, Light of the World, Branch of Jesse, Son of David, Messiah, Emmanuel, Son of God holds in his vision all human experience.  It's all with him already in the manger that night.  It's with him in his ministry to come, in the cross, and in the open arms of risen body. 

May we all experience the sweetness.  But no matter how any one of us will experience Christmas, his Spirit can touch us.  And it can open our vision too. 

Merry Christmas.