Saturday, December 23, 2023
“Preparing for the Big Day”
In the Christmas Story, Mary and Joseph are about to embark on an important journey. Mary is super-duper pregnant and a census has been ordered. Since both Mary and Joseph are from the house of David, they must travel to their family (house) headquarters in Bethlehem so they are properly counted by the officials. Of course, since the Holy Couple is very pregnant, it’s possible that they may be registering three people instead of just two.
Isn’t that exciting? I remember when my youngest daughter was born. The doctors had said that she would likely be born in early to mid-January. That made Christmas and New Year’s super-special in lots of ways. It was neat to think about the possibility of a Holiday baby if she decided to arrive a little early. The conversations were fun conversations as preparations were made for that special upcoming day. There was also some anxiety, wondering if everything ready and prepared.
As Mary and Joseph prepared for their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (maybe 90 miles?), they likely packed plenty of things. The journey could take anywhere from five to ten days. They would need bedding, food, tent supplies, and lots of other things. Sure, they might be able to find a hotel along the way, but since we know Bethlehem was already sold out, we might expect that all of the towns along the way were also booked. So, yes, we might expect that there was both excitement and anxiety. After all, 90 miles is a long way for a very pregnant couple, especially if the baby decides to come early! I like to imagine what it was like for them. They are exceptional people by Biblical definition, but they were still just people. They didn’t have wings (yet!) to fly to Bethlehem. They still had to make the journey on foot (or on the back of a donkey).
Just like Mary and Joseph’s journey, our journey to Christmas is important. In two days, we’ll arrive. What will we discover? What will we experience? Whatever it is, God is already there blessing it. If we smile and laugh, God will be smiling and laughing with us. If we shed a few tears, God will be there to wipe them from our faces.
Christmas is a big deal. We should pay attention. We should prepare. Whether we pause for a moment of quiet reflection or sit down and read the Christmas story in the Bible, God will bless that experience. Let’s not ignore what God might be leading us towards this Christmas. We might discover that the dirty stable or damp cave is the starting line to a new life of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Eternal Love.
Christmas is almost here. Prepare for the Big Day and enjoy the journey. God is with you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)