A Thrill of Hope

Christmas is in FIVE days! For some, that sentence brings joy and/or excitement. For others that sentence brings grief and/or panic. For some it’s a combination of both. I rest in that third category — a mix of joy and grief — and yet, I find “a thrill of hope” in this season. The Christmas season for believers is the celebration of the birth of our Savior. While many scholars agree that Jesus was most likely not born on December 25th, it is the day that we choose to acknowledge His birth.

I have heard the story of His birth ever since I was in my mother’s womb. Every Christmas season of my entire life, I have been aware of the birth of my Savior and it doesn’t always hit the same. As a kid, I was aware, but I don’t think I was in awe. I knew about it, but I don’t think I understood exactly how incredible His birth was. I don’t think that I realized how much hope His birth brought until I was older. Now, walking through this journey of grief, I cling to the hope that He gives even more tightly! His birth brought hope to a weary world. A world that has been broken since Genesis 3. Jesus’ birth had been longed for for centuries, leading up to it — and sadly there are still many who long for Him to come, not even realizing that He already has once. His birth changed the trajectory of the world. It brought hope to the hopeless and began His earthly life — which would ultimately lead Him to the cross.

No matter what day it was that Jesus was actually born, taking the time to acknowledge His birth and meditate on what that event meant for you and me is worthwhile. The obedience and humility of Mary mixed with the trust and faith of Joseph is a beautiful picture of what dependence on God looks like. They depended on Him as they walked — literally — to get to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). They depended on Him when the time came for Mary to give birth and they couldn’t find any room in the inn (Luke 2:7). They depended on Him time and time again and they trusted Him so much as they brought Jesus into the world.

Having experienced Marc deliver two of our three sons before the midwife arrived, I have a very different idea of what that scene may have looked like when Mary delivered Jesus now, then when I was a child. I have no idea if Joseph was the only one around when Mary delivered or anything like that, but I do know that I always imagined it being quite terrifying to be Mary and potentially delivering with only Joseph present. Now that I’ve witnessed Marc, very calmly deliver two of our boys, I imagine that Jesus birth might also have been calm. Joseph might have been calm. Mary might have been calm. Again, I have no idea what it was really like, but I have now experienced birth in a calm setting at home more than once, so I can imagine it being calm (not to imply that giving birth near a manger away from home is the same thing).

I also imagine what it would have been like to be the angels. I mean, they got to announce the birth of the Savior of the world — that’s amazing. I know how exciting it is for me to call people and tell them when we’ve had a baby, but to tell those shepherds that Jesus had been born — what an honor! Luke 2:10-14 says, “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The birth of Jesus was amazing! It was more important than I ever grasped as a child. Without His birth, there wouldn’t have been His life, death, and resurrection — and I don’t even want to think about what our lives would look like without all of that! His birth changed everything because it lead to the greatest act of love that has ever existed. His birth was the beginning of His earthly journey to save us from our sins. His birth allows this weary world to rejoice. His birth brings hope, joy, and peace. His birth is worth remembering and reflecting on. I’m so grateful for His birth and all that it meant for us.

Song(s) of the Week: This week I chose “O Holy Night” by Lauren Daigle and “A Baby Changes Everything” by Faith Hill. Enjoy!