Jack's First Christmas

Yes, I know, it's only September 1, so it's a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but this year I can't help it. But it's not just for the reasons you might think...


Here are some of the obvious reasons I hope December 25 comes quickly.


This year will be my first Christmas at home (YAY!) with Lyle since we have been married. It is Christmas #4 for us, and the previous 3 years we have always traveled. So another thing I'm looking forward to is really decorating the house since we will be here this time around. I hope we can start some family traditions of our own this year. I also can't wait to help Jack open his presents and then watch in amusement as he probably will be more entertained by trying to eat the boxes instead of actually playing with his gifts. Just having him here with us this year on Christmas morning will be such a blessing.


However, the real reason I'm talking about Christmas today doesn't at all have to do with the tangible aspects of the holiday. I'm writing about Christmas because of what it will mean to me spiritually this year, which is something I don't want to allow myself to forget...especially knowing that once Black Friday arrives it will be a mad rush to buy presents and attend parties and do all those crazy things that make Americans love and hate the month of December at the same time.


Last year Christmas had special meaning for me since I was about 7 months pregnant with Jack at the time. Boy, did I empathize with Mary in a new way! (Traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey, are you kidding me??)


But this year, my first year of becoming a parent, my first year having my own son...I already know that I will have a different perspective when I think about Jesus' birth. It hit me this past Sunday in church during Communion.


God sent His Son.


Not just an ordinary messenger, not one of His angels, not a highly trusted business associate. He sent His Son.

Wow. When I think about how I love Jack, I think of so many things. Snuggling his little head on my cheek as he's falling asleep in the rocking chair with me, wrapping him up tightly in his Winnie the Pooh towel after I give him a bath, tickling his tummy to make him squeal that delicious little "baby laugh" of his...the list could go on and on. Love doesn't just have one meaning for how I feel; it has several: protection, devotion, wonder, sacrifice, and affection, just to name a few. And all of these things come from my imperfect, selfish little heart! How much greater must the Father love the Son, when the Father's heart is perfect. I can't even try to put my brain around that one.

God sent His Son.

God sent Him knowing the abuse and treatment Jesus would receive while here on earth. Would any of us as parents knowingly leave our children with someone who would abuse them? Of course not! So does that make God a bad parent? What seems to be the greatest contradiction is in actuality the most beautiful part - He did it out of love for us! Me and you! He wanted to make us His children, too.

Oh, how I pray that we can communicate these amazing truths to Jack as he grows into a little boy across the Christmases. The gifts we can buy for him will only last a short time until they either break, or he outgrows them.

But if we tell him about God's Gift and we live it out in our lives...

Why, that is the Gift that lasts forever.