Insights

Sometimes we need to change our perspective to see things in the proper light.

The oh so familiar Christmas story... like a nativity, a pageant, a carol.

So much more than just a story... a scene... a child's program.

The insights I have gleaned this Christmas celebration have altered me.

Granted me new perspective. Looking forward, looking back. 

"Fragile finger sent to heal us.  Tender brow prepared for thorns.  Tiny heart whose blood will save us...

Unto us is born... ... 

Wrap our injured flesh around you.  Breathe our air and walk our sod.  Rob our sin and make us holy.

Perfect Son of God."(Welcome to Our World~ Chris Rice)

The beginning of the Easter story... Christmas is about more than a gift.

It's is about blood, sacrifice, faith, favor, humility, grace, mercy... and trust.

I have issues... trusting... believing... accepting.

Rather, analyzing... processing information... comparing.

"You can ask God questions, but you should never question God." (Unknown)

I am three years old... Why?  I don't understand. Why? Why? Why?

These are thrown towards heaven... tears streaming... yearning for answers.

Mary didn't question... "Be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38)

Trust... Faith... Belief.

Imagine an angel showing up and saying "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women... Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God... For with God nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:28-37)

And your reply is "Be it unto me according to thy word."

A virgin bearing a child.  Who is going to believe that?

Imagine, being promised to a man... an arranged marriage, most likely... Espoused...

How do you suddenly turn up "with child" claiming you have been overshadowed...

Expecting everyone... anyone... to believe you.

Especially this just man... who holds the power of your life in his belief... reaction... or betrayal.

This is favor? Imagine; the whispers... pointed fingers... judgements... 

To flesh, societal expectations can reign... masking the more important things.

This is favor: Giving birth to a son... the Messiah... the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

God robed in flesh... walking with him daily... playing a vital role in God's salvation plan for mankind.

Imagine God, the creator of the universe, coming to earth.

Humbling himself to become the required sacrifice for our sins.

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4)

Never sinning, but carrying the weight of the sins of all time, both future and past... 

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21)

Bridging the chasm... granting access... presenting eternity.

Lately, life is overwhelming... confusing... 

Grasping... clutching... closing my hands around... something, anything.

A still small voice tells me to open my hands... let go... trust.

I am still trying, although...

My life feels shaken... turned upside down... emptied... 

Perhaps I'm just gaining a new perspective.

*This Christmas we got to spend with my sister's family and her in-laws.  We watched these films... which I recommend... Even if you don't watch things produced by hollywood.  They are very insightful and well done.  I hope you will watch them and glean new understanding.

The Nativity Story and The Star of Bethlehem

My December and how I despise it.

I HATE DECEMBER.  Literally.  Ok, ok, I know HATE is a strong word; would you feel better if I said I DESPISE DECEMBER instead? Fine then, I despise December.  I was born at 3:3- am on December 3, 1979.  The last month of the seventies; I suppose I can be thankful that I was not born in the eighties.  Anyhow, I've always wished I had been born in another month... any other month... but preferably the summer.  December is full of Christmas, snow, cold; none of which I like.  People always go on about Christmas and how happy it is with everyone exchanging greetings and cheer.  That is not my experience.  My experience is stress... excessive busyness... cold... obligations... Oh and getting older.  See, no one likes getting older.  Anyhow, you may wonder: If you despise December so, why is your blog named 'My December'?  I have an answer.  I feel like my life is like a December... maybe not bad, but not at all what you were promised or expected.  Take that as you will.  I have the perfect example: it is from the Christmas when I had just turned 5.  We were getting Cabbage Patch Dolls for Christmas.  It was when they had just come out and we knew we were getting them, we had picked out the ones we wanted at Toy Parade and had been there at the drawing when my parents bought them.  Cabbage Patch Dolls came in a very distinctive box.  Imagine how elated my sister and I were when my mom told us on the Sunday morning before Christmas that we could open ONE gift before church.  we both chose the same gift... the one shaped like a Cabbage Patch Doll box.  My mom was no dummy... We excitedly ripped open the wrapping and stared in shock and disbelief.  CHRISTMAS DRESSES!  Fluffy red and white Christmas dresses.  My sneaky mother had taken the dolls out of their boxes and replaced them with Christmas dresses.  Imagine, expecting a CPD and getting a dress instead.  Dresses are not bad, they just aren't what you expect to find in a CPD box.  Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming my mother or this traumatic gift experience for my December dislike.  I went on to have many other great Christmas experiences.

Maybe a great percentage of my disillusion comes from Christmas songs; they promise so much... they raise the bar of expectations so high that... well, let's just say that they create a false sense of what is going to really happen.  I know this may not be every ones experience.  I'm not trying to kill the magic for other people.  I am just telling you how I feel.  People will not love each other more because it is Christmas.  The fact that there is mistletoe has no power over the fact that there is no one to kiss even if perchance you were standing under it.  People kill trees and put them in their house with lights and pretty fluffy stuff.  There are secret Santa drawings everywhere... where you inevitably draw the name of the person you didn't want to draw. Seriously, if the ratio of people that you don't want to draw to people you wouldn't mind drawing is 1:26, you're gonna draw the person you didn't want.  People make snowflake ornaments out of paper and hang them everywhere. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Scrooge.  I want to like Christmas... maybe even December.  I want it to be magical and full of warmth and fulfilled expectations... lacking disappointments... the perfect ending for the year.  But, I'm too much of a realist to expect that.