If ever there was a tough Christmas, at least for a lot of us, it鈥檚 Christmas 2020. I won鈥檛 really miss the work involved in putting up and taking down the tree, but that鈥檚 only because no one can come to share its beauty with us.
In my musings of how different this season is and will continue to be for the immediate future, there are some other very tough things about that first Christmas. I鈥檇 not really thought much about them before, but here are a couple of things to ponder.
First, the role of Mary. As confident as she was that she鈥檇 heard from God regarding the baby Jesus she was privileged to bear, she still was subject to gossip, ridicule and scorn.
Then, I鈥檇 honestly never really considered the role of Joseph before, either. He, too, had the assurance that Mary鈥檚 pregnancy was initiated by God himself but he, too, must have endured community gossip. What I鈥檇 not thought about was the sacrifice and self-control required by a healthy young man who 鈥渒ept her a virgin鈥� throughout those long months until she brought forth 鈥渉er firstborn Son.鈥� (Matthew 1:25)
The shepherds also took the risk of leaving their flocks alone by night. Dangers lurked, but the call of the cradle took precedence even over that.
Finally, there were those wise men: I can only assume that months of travel through desert sand and heat is tiring business, even when led by a star.
Yes, 2020 was and is tough, but challenges face each of us all along our journey.
鈥淎nd we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan听and听purpose.鈥� Romans 8:28
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