When I hear it, I am sleeping somewhat peacefully with my brothers and sisters. At first, I think I’m hearing things. My brothers and sisters always say I have such a vivid imagination and maybe I do. I daydream a lot so that means I get lost easily.
My owners are always out looking for me and sometimes it takes them calling for me three or four times for me to be drawn out of my daydream.
But today, no, tonight…heck, I have no idea what time it is, I just know it’s not quite bright and yet when I hear the sound and open my eyes, I am almost blinded by the loudness of the light that hits my face.
I scramble to my feet and find that I can’t quite move. It’s like something is holding me down to the grass beneath me.
I shut my eyes because the light is blinding, and I hear the voices, like a choir sing-talking. I listen hard to what they are saying:
“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news…”
What?
“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born…”
What is a saviour?
I squeeze my eyes open and look to the side. My owners are standing stock still looking up at this bright light and singsong voices. I turn to my brothers and sisters to check if they are seeing this, but no, they are all deeply asleep, grunting.
“He is the Messiah, the Lord…this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in a manger.”
A baby?
That sounds like fun!
My sister had a baby a few weeks ago, so our owners have treated her and the baby extra special.
But why is this baby special? I wonder.
And what is a Messiah?
While I think about what I heard, the voices change and suddenly, I hear the most glorious sound I’ve ever heard in my short lifespan:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
It’s singing!
I hear it from the bright light, the words and the voices are beautiful. But then, I also hear a familiar voice join in the singing. It’s our owners! They are singing along with the bright light.
It is all so beautiful I want to cry. I want to wake my brothers and sisters. I want them to see, to be a part of this moment. I don’t know who this baby is that is so special that he has a choir announcing his birth, but I know there is something significant about this moment and everyone needed to be part of it.
So, I finally stand, kick my hind legs back, and stamp my feet in a dance.
“Baaaaaa…” I sing along. “Baaaaaaa….baaaaa.”
Okay, special baby, I celebrate you, whoever you are.
____________________________________________________________________________
While this is a comedic spin on the story of the birth of our Saviour, it is also a call to look back and recognize the glorious moment that occurred on that day. What we are celebrating is more than just a season, it is the beginning of the greatest love story that ever existed.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
The birth of Jesus is more than just Christmas, it is the fulfillment of prophecy spoken long before, it is part of the grand plan of the Creator of the universe. So, it is a privilege to be part of this story and part of this plan and it is another privilege to have a reminder every year of the love of God for mankind, for me, and you.
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
When we say Christmas is about love, we are saying it is about God because God is love. Christmas is not the figment of any man’s imagination or a fairytale curated for children to hear, this is why it is not about Santa or elves or beautiful trees. Therefore whether everyone agrees or not, the truth is, without Jesus, Christmas would not exist.
That being said, have a very merry Christmas as you ruminate on the love of God.
