11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:11-20 (NLT)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Well, today is the day. You might be watching young children tear through wrapping paper, barely noticing what the gift is before searching for the next one. Or maybe you are celebrating abroad on a fantastical trip, or perhaps you are celebrating at home in a lovely, quiet space.
Wherever this Christmas finds you, I hope it is spectacular and centered around meaningful time with the people you care about most.
For us today, there is a great sense of jubilant energy with young children. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of watching someone you care about open a present and then fill with joy. That is among the heights of the parental experience for me, seeing joy on their faces.
We have traditions, as I am sure you do too, that are unique to our family. For one, Deanna and I write all of the gift tags to one another exclusively using inside jokes. Not a single one is addressed to “Lee” or “Deanna.” We also make a French toast bake that smells as good as it tastes and pairs wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee. I smile just thinking about it.
While Christmas can be a time of great joy, it can also be a time of sorrow. We know what it is like to celebrate Christmas under harder circumstances after a season of loss. Christmas in 2013 took place two months after losing our firstborn daughter, and although we did plenty to celebrate, it was a difficult and painful time.
I will be hosting Christmas dinner today at my house for my immediate family. I will be making beef Wellington, and I appreciate your prayers that it turns out well. Among our guests will be my two brothers, one of whom is not a believer. His lack of belief troubles me every day and is a constant motivation for prayer. My hope is that the Lord will call him back to belief, and I am sure you know someone for whom you share this same hope.
Whether this season is celebrated in joy, in grief, or in uncertainty, I hope you can cling to Jesus as the joy and truth above all circumstances. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.
