For instance, this is the 3rd Christmas in 4 years that I'll be pregnant on Christmas (I know, fertile myrtle). It has made me look at all the new babies that have been born this year as we celebrate the newborn Jesus's birth.
I also can't imagine riding on a DONKEY while in my third trimester for a few minutes let alone for a few days and weeks that Mary had to endure.
Then, instead of the sterile, clean environment of a hospital specifically meant to help deliver my baby safely (and let's not forget epidurals!), Mary had a dirty, hole-in-the-wall stable with only her new husband to help (and maybe a midwife, but I doubt it).
There were no "It's a Boy!" balloons and baby gift bags held in the hands of eager extended family members. Instead, angels were singing from Heaven and the bright star lit the way for local shepherds and later the Wise Men were able to find a young Jesus in Egypt.
Now, anyone that has held a newborn can't help but feel heaven's presence in his or her sweet countenance, so can you imagine how it must have felt to be in the presence of God's Only Begotten on top of that?!
I'm grateful for this holiday to remind me of the divine wonder and love my children have given to me, and I'm looking forward to adding our third to the clan now that I remember the joys newborns bring as I celebrate with family the Christchild's birth.
Newborns bring hope, joy, and renewed love as a reminder that we are not forgotten Up There, which is what I love most about Christmas. It reminds me what's been here all along.
Merry Christmas to you all. Don't you just want to grab a newborn and snuggle it?!
2 comments:
Very nice Natalie. I like your analogies and they are funny. If Jesus can be born on dirty old animal hay then why are we so hung up on disinfecting before we hold a new baby? Good point :) Oh and yes I do want to snuggle a newborn, which I do, but it is best to put them down to shower once in awhile and snuggle the bigger kids (and daddy) too. lol
Oh Nat... heart you.
I've been going on this but a bit differently on fb. Jesus was a "home" birth, actually an unassisted or free, birth.
He was breastfed and he was worn in carriers (gotta show you the art my fb friends sent me of Mary wearing and/or nursing baby Jesus... makes me so happy!).
I want to snuggle a newborn too, but alas, my newborns keep growing up. Guess I'll just have to make you let me get snugs in with your in a few months.
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