Christmas Ponderings

    As the Christmas season gets thrown into full gear I was listening to a little girl talk about how her family reads the Christmas story together each year.  She said "I think I have heard it about a million times!" I could definitely understand her sentiment, I mean how many times have we heard the song Away In a Manger, or Silent Night? It's so easy to simply go through the motions of Christmas and miss the miracle that it represents.  As a new mommy I am seeing Christmas with a fresh new perspective.  I had never thought about the event through Mary's eyes.  I mean I knew that she was a virgin, not married, and an angel told her she would give birth to the Son of God that would be the Savior of all mankind.  But I had never thought about the physical, emotional, and social changes that Mary endured during her nine (actually ten, but that's a pretty well kept secret!) months carrying Emmanuel.   I remember during my first trimester how sick I was, I mean sick sick sick and so very tired.  Did Mary feel this way?  I then remember how nervous I was about every single thing I put in my body, how much more anxious would I have been if I was carrying the Hope for Salvation?  I also remember the excitement I felt the first time I felt Lynnlee move,  I can only imagine the love that abounded in Mary the first time she felt that sensation of Jesus growing and moving!  But the moment I most remember is the moment I first laid eyes on my baby girl.  She was so beautiful, tiny, and completely helpless.  I was overjoyed, and terrified simultaneously.  I was responsible for her well-being, I was her caregiver, she NEEDED me.  Though Mary knew that Jesus would ultimately be the King of kings, He was still born a tiny, beautiful, helpless baby.  Mary had the responsibility of nursing Him, changing Him, rocking Him to sleep.  I cannot begin to fathom the depth of love and fear that Mary felt.  She loved Jesus in a way that no other person on this earth could ever love Him, she loved Him as her son.  I know I love Lynnlee deeper than any other human being on earth, Travis might run a close second ;)  I am so proud of her every accomplishment no matter how small.  Mary would have felt the same pride and joy watching Jesus take His first steps, hearing Him first say "Mama".  What a miracle Jesus' birth truly is, fully God, yet completely human.  Complete perfection in a tiny baby.  That is the reason for Christmas, that is the reason we celebrate during this season.  Jesus gave up His right as God and came to dwell, even for a little while, among men.  And the one person who would recognize just how miraculous His birth is, was the same person that probably cried tears of joy and tears of fear the night He came into this world, His mother, Mary.  This song has meant so much more to me this year than it ever has before, I will close with the lyrics to Mary Did You Know?

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.