Remembering More Than Bethlehem

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7 NIV).

Christmas can be difficult when you live with depression. It is supposed to be all merry and joyful and instead it reminds me of sad things. My parents have been gone more than 20 years, still I grieve their absence at Christmastime. Mother spent the month of December baking cookies and making candy. Then close to Christmas she would bring out all the containers of goodies and begin to fill trays that she would make Daddy deliver to friends, neighbors and others who were in need of a plate of cheer. She was amazing.

Daddy was known for his Christmas surprises. The day before Christmas he would go shopping. Sometimes he would bring home a surprise for mother: a new stove for instance. Here was mother up to her ears in dinner preparations and Daddy would be putting in a new stove for her. 

Christmas at Mom and Dad's house meant gathering all the daughters and their families together for a big meal. Once the food was put away (taking much too long for the kids) everyone would circle around the living room. There were presents to open but my favorite part was singing Christmas carols with Mama at the piano. There was time to look at each face that I loved, and hear the story of Jesus' birth in the songs that we sang. That memory still brings tears to my eyes.

Christmas is more than Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. It is filled with emotions and memories of all the past celebrations, the desire for a perfect gathering of all my family together, the many midnight Christmas Eve candlelight services around my home church, the many Christmas pageants performed through the years, and yes, the precious gift of baby Jesus coming to earth as a human: to grow up as a Bible scholar who lived the perfect life for us to be like. This baby became the Man who gave His life for us on the cross. We remember so much!

Lord, be with us this Christmas. Fill us with the Love of that came down that Christmas morning. Heal our broken places and help us live a life for You as You planned for us. In the Holy Name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.