December 12
Bible Verses Covered
Devotion: When we read this passage to our daughters, I was optimistic they would have a Christmas memory that might fall in line with the passage. Instead, one of them started drawing pictures of Mary and Jesus, one shared that Mary probably colored her hair, and the other climbed in and out of my lap as if it were a jungle gym. Suffice to say, we were struggling to concentrate. I prayed that I might be filled with the wonder of Jesus much like Elizabeth by way of some words for the blank page in front of me. I looked up and saw two of the girls drawing and comparing their versions of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. And realized that perhaps, just by reading the passage, they were actually filled with the wonder and purpose of Christmas in a most age appropriate way.
They then asked if I thought we should put out our nativity set this year. You know, because of our youngest. (Who was, by this point, walking across the kitchen table.) Each year we put out a ceramic Nativity scene front and center under our tree. It was given to us by my mother-in-law who made it for us years before we were a family. She gave it to us for our first Christmas. It survived the oldest two girls’ toddler years, and I’m sure it will make it through one more. In a few weeks we’ll decorate our tree and finish by arranging the nativity, reminding us that Jesus’ birth is the meaning of Christmas. And together, like years past, when we stand in the dark and watch the tree light up with the soft glowing manager below, I hope that we’ll be filled with the wonder and meaning of Christmas.
Prayer: Dear God, bless this church with joy, wonder and hope, and let this be a wonderful Christmas full of hope, wonder and Christmas miracles.
Devotion: When we read this passage to our daughters, I was optimistic they would have a Christmas memory that might fall in line with the passage. Instead, one of them started drawing pictures of Mary and Jesus, one shared that Mary probably colored her hair, and the other climbed in and out of my lap as if it were a jungle gym. Suffice to say, we were struggling to concentrate. I prayed that I might be filled with the wonder of Jesus much like Elizabeth by way of some words for the blank page in front of me. I looked up and saw two of the girls drawing and comparing their versions of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. And realized that perhaps, just by reading the passage, they were actually filled with the wonder and purpose of Christmas in a most age appropriate way.
They then asked if I thought we should put out our nativity set this year. You know, because of our youngest. (Who was, by this point, walking across the kitchen table.) Each year we put out a ceramic Nativity scene front and center under our tree. It was given to us by my mother-in-law who made it for us years before we were a family. She gave it to us for our first Christmas. It survived the oldest two girls’ toddler years, and I’m sure it will make it through one more. In a few weeks we’ll decorate our tree and finish by arranging the nativity, reminding us that Jesus’ birth is the meaning of Christmas. And together, like years past, when we stand in the dark and watch the tree light up with the soft glowing manager below, I hope that we’ll be filled with the wonder and meaning of Christmas.
Prayer: Dear God, bless this church with joy, wonder and hope, and let this be a wonderful Christmas full of hope, wonder and Christmas miracles.