Joyful Ruins

The first Christmas was hidden in many ways. Rather, than a parade or thousands of cheering people, the birth of Christ was shared with shepherds in a field and barn animals in a cave.

Christ came in the most unexpected way, in the most unexpected place.

What are your expectations for Christmas? Perhaps you, like many others, expect parties, friends, celebration, or just anything to make you feel that Christmas spirit. And perhaps your Christmas just doesn’t look that way this year. Perhaps you find yourself a lone, sick, grieving, not able to participate in the usual Christmas activities and expectations.

I say, draw close to Jesus in that, draw close to the truth that His birth came on a quiet insignificant night. That His birth came in a to the side, cold, dirty cave. That He came in a time of grief.

Press into the shepherd’s lowliness and obscurity. Press into Mary’s young heart which chose to treasure quietly the things she experienced that night.

Let go of what you usually expect this Christmas and be open to Jesus Christ coming to you in the most unexpected way, just as He did on the first Christmas night.