The angel came to the shepherds yesterday. Without his name badge with a Celestial Picture and his name on it. The shepherds were "sore afraid". If you look at angelic visits in the Old Testament you might well understand why they were afraid. They may have been more afraid thinking it was an angel than a ghost. Old Ebeneezer (ask your folks what that name means and see if they know. You can thank them if they do) had visits from both ghosts and angels during his night of revelation. I'm not sure which would have frightened me more-Jacob with his head cloth holding his mouth shut and his chains and warnings, or the "ghost" of Christmas Future" with his dire visions of want and ignorance.
The next may seem like a non sequitur (another opportunity to see how smart your spouse or parents may be) but I will connect everything in a bit.
Some blogs ago I told the tale of the Edge boys awakening in Christmas' early morning hours about the year of 1959 and, being the considerate young men (9, 7, 5 years old) decided to not awaken their folks. Instead, we thought we could well sort out the presents under the tree without parental assistance. We started with unwrapping and divvying up the goods, progressed to ripping and tearing and playing with everything. Once we thought we had everything sorted out we wondered why mom and dad weren't up joining in the fun yet. One of us-I won't tell you that it was the eldest brother (Randy)-thought it would be hilarious if we used a shiny new pop gun as an alarm. At about 4 AM.
After the very loud "POP" both of our parents vaulted out of their bed thinking that home and hearth might be under attack. It was funny. For about 3 seconds. Neither appeared to be overjoyed in our manner of inviting them to come play.
As they entered the chaos room-formally known as the living room-both sat down in wonder and despair. Mom put her head in her hands, wept, and loudly announced that we three boys had "Ruined Christmas!".
Indeed, as the responsible middle child, I took this personally and have felt a bit of shame (even though the memories bring back a few chuckles) for ruining Christmas some 60 plus years ago. I'm sure we boys tried to "ruin Christmas" (without knowing that was what we were doing) a few more times.
Then I realized something this week. I CAN'T RUIN CHRISTMAS! NEITHER CAN YOU! NO MATTER WHAT!
It all has to do with what the angel told those shepherds long ago on those dark but glorious plains. The "Good News" leading to great joy for everyone. "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord". That changed everything. Because now, Easter would happen! Well, not especially the stuff about chicks and eggs, but the miracles of overcoming death and hell. For "all people"!
This Babe of Bethlehem was the literal Son of God-much more than the Jews were looking for-who, from the beginning, was to be our Saviour. And nothing could change or "ruin" that. He would live His Perfect life, Atone for all of us, break the bands of death and make our unimaginable eternal home assessable to us. And nothing could or would change that.
So, if you or your bratty, er, I mean rambunctious kids get up and destroy the presents in the middle of the night or "discover" the perfect gift where you hid it two weeks before Christmas or throw a fit in the middle of the Christmas concert or just act like a moody teenager-Christmas isn't ruined. We are all still delivered from those monsters of death and hell.
Every time we drive toward the freeway on 90th South this time of year I recall that a family had a horrendous wreck near the river years ago during Christmas. Lives were lost and bodies damaged and hearts broken. Every Christmas season as this world turns there are tragedies large and small, personal and remote. Growing up, we had several Christmases with more heartache than holiday. In spite of all of this, "Christmas" can't be "ruined". We all have the eternal gifts of Life and Heaven made available through that Babe in Bethlehem. Nothing can change that. For God so loves you, and me, and all people that He sent His Only Begotten to save us.
So, if, in your short-or lengthy-life have had difficulties this time of year, I'm sorry, but please look up, realize what the Plan is, and rejoice. If you haven't had things go "wrong" during the "holiday season", good for you, but realize that you probably will at some time in your earthly journey. And when troubles and heartache and tragedy visit, please know in your heart that we have a Savior who is "mighty to save" who has indeed done just that, and find a reason to rejoice and "fear not", as our friendly Ghost from the shepherds' fields would tell us.
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