Christmas Joy

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I’ve turned on all the twinkle lights in the house – the ones I managed to put up before the grandbeans arrived – and I now sit in front of our colourfully-lit tree. 

Hard to believe that in the middle of the looking-after-little-grandchildren-craziness, I would have time to write.  But they are napping now and here I sit in the quiet house taking joy in the Christmas tree. Breathing and reflecting.

Our tree bears many of the ornaments I’ve gathered over the years, along with almost two-dozen white snowflakes that Mom crocheted for me, tiny stuffed gingerbread men made out of felt – with jingle bell buttons – left over from a craft fair the girls and I entered many years ago, pewter bells, and every kind of snowman you can imagine. I love snowmen. They are so jolly.  

Also on the tree are six sets of booties, one set added for each grandchild that arrived, including one for little Selah Rae who never breathed on this earth, but who waits for us in heaven. 

Looking at the ornaments we’ve collected over the years brings me joy.

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I’m thinking about joy. Joy on the face of almost-two-year-old Little Munch when he mastered the toddler slide at the indoor playground today. He clapped for himself with a loud “YAY!” every single time he came down that two-foot slide.

I’m thinking about one elderly woman from a private seniors’ home, whose name I do not know, and whose face lit up with joy when Santa handed her a gift just for her. The gift turned out to be cozy socks, and she was thrilled.

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I’m thinking about the shepherds, who must have cowered in the presence of an angel proclaiming, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy…

Did they feel joy in that moment, or only shock and terror? What was that like, to go searching for this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us? How long did it take them to find Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger?

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I think it must have been after. After the angel, after the searching, after laying eyes on the Baby. That’s when the joy kicked in. Because they knew.

They knew for certain that what the angel had proclaimed was true: That this day in the city of David, a Saviour had been born. And He was Christ the Lord.

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This is the joy of the season, and every season. That even though sadness and suffering seem to go on forever, there is a Saviour. Born to earth long ago, still living in heaven and in the hearts of those who believe He came to save, who will one day rule heaven and earth.

It’s not an old-fashioned story. It’s relevant for every kind of story present in the world today. He came to save. I believe it with all my heart, and that’s where my joy comes from. That’s why, with the shepherds, I look to the future with hope.

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scrapsofjoy.com

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And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them.

Luke 2: 8-20

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