A Christmas to Remember
As I reflect on the Christmas season, my mind wanders back to a particular year when my family and I found ourselves far from home, much like Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. It was December 14, and our third child, Elizabeth Anne, had just been born in Nairobi, Kenya. The hospital care was exceptional, and we were grateful for the modern facilities.
A Quiet Christmas
A week later, we returned to our mountain home, where an eerie silence greeted us. The other missionaries had departed to celebrate Christmas with their friends, leaving us to fend for ourselves. On Christmas Day, our little family gathered in the living room, surrounded by the sparse decorations and the faint glow of candlelight. As I nursed our newborn, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness. The absence of family, festive lights, and Christmas carols only added to the sense of isolation.
A Lesson from Mary
In that moment, I thought of Mary, who must have felt equally displaced and alone in Bethlehem. Yet, she had the comfort of angels and shepherds to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I, on the other hand, felt abandoned. But then, a gentle knock on the door broke the silence. Pastor Benson from a nearby church had arrived, sensing our loneliness and staying for a while to keep us company. It was as if God had sent an angel to remind us of His presence.
The True Meaning of Christmas
That Christmas in Kenya taught me a valuable lesson. It wasn’t about the trappings of a traditional Christmas – the lights, the carols, or the family gatherings. It was about the presence of God, who meets our needs in practical and often unexpected ways. Perhaps your Christmas will be marked by loneliness or the absence of loved ones. Maybe you’ll be celebrating for the first time without someone dear to you. But whose Christmas angel can you be? As Matthew 5:16 reminds us, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
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