A Christmas To Remember

When we got to the cookies I commented that if he could get the kids candy I could get them cookies and put two or three packages of cookies in the basket. After checking out Jay and I went to deliver this stuff to the family. The Father had been in the hospital and just got out the day before and couldn’t work right then. The Mother had been out of work for several months and had been taking care of the kids and Dad had been in the hospital for like two weeks and hadn’t worked for several weeks before that.

When we got to the house Mom was gone, on Christmas Eve for a job interview. Dad was on the phone with someone trying t0 get a job. So the oldest of three kids, a little girl of about 7 answered the door and after Dad heard who we were she let us bring in the food. The other two children a girl about 5 and a boy about four were watching. The boy held the door open for us as Jay and I both made two or three trips carrying in sacks of groceries. The oldest girl, acting like a little momma began to unpack the groceries so they could put them up.

When, just as Jay and I came in with the last bags, she found the cookies and candy she cried out” Look Mary we’ve got chocolate!” It really filled my heart with tears of emotion as the other two kids ran over to the table to see what they had! Jay and I had realized the true meaning of Christmas!

We had given rather then received! Yes I think the best Christmases are the ones where you give of yourself to others. Sometimes it is baskets, sometimes it may be money, sometimes it is a special gift that you hunted for or made but it is always giving not receiving that brings the greatest joy!

Now if you look at our scriptures for this morning you will see that this is the joy of that first Christmas. Mary gave life to an infant, Joseph gave care and dedication to a child and his wife, and GOD gave a SON to the world, but he wasn’t an ordinary son. This was the baby that Isaiah had written about long before Jesus’ birth in Chapter 9: 6-8 which says.

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

8The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

This then was the Messiah, the Savior of the World, The only begotten SON OF GOD!!

GOD had become a baby dependent on a teenaged girl and a carpenter to care for and protect as he grew up. At this point he was totally dependent upon them for everything. He could not feed himself, or change himself; he was just like every other baby ever born. Totally and utterly dependent on others to care for him.

Yet this was the greatest gift ever given to anyone and GOD gave it to the whole world.