Christmas is a blessed time and one when we honor the birth of our Savior. We often have warm fuzzy feelings when we look at the nativity scene. I think we need to take a closer look. Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave birth in a cave with animals all around her and really no privacy. Can you imagine the smell in the cave? She certainly did not have any drugs to relieve the pain of childbirth. Some Bible scholars believe Mary was 14 years old. Picture being 14 and giving birth in a cave. All she had was Joseph to be with her, no mother or sisters to comfort her. She was very alone. Yet, she was not alone – God was with her.

Mary was trying to recover from childbirth and had to worry about clothes to wrap the Son of God in and keep him warm. Mary was exhausted, but greeted by shepherds and angels. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart – Luke 2:19. When Jesus was 8 days old he was circumcised and taken to the temple. Listen to what Simeon said to a very young mother still recovering from childbirth “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:34-35. Wow, a sword will pierce your soul. We are not told how Mary reacted, but can only imagine. Often when our children are born it is a very happy time, but Mary was already hearing and knowing what would happen to her son.

The lesson I think we can learn from taking a different look at the Christmas story is this; God is always with us no matter what. We can trust him to provide and take care of us now and in the future. He may not take care of us the way we expect, but he will provide and it will be best. I pray you trust God this Christmas season for every area of your life and celebrate the gift of our Savior and Redeemer.

I think it is increasingly hard to remind and keep in the forefront of our children’s minds the true meaning of Christmas. Find some small way to reach out to others in your community or church to show God’s love. Children can bake cookies and give to others. You can buy toys for a family that does not have much for Christmas. We have done Operation Shoebox with Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse organization for a few years and my children love picking items for the box. May our children learn from us through our actions and word the true meaning of Christmas.

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