Thursday, December 24, 2009

a shepherd's Christmas

you know your husband loves you when he will give up his saturday to drive an hour and a half to pick up your Christmas gift... a ram! this is our new shetland. isn't he a beauty? his fleece is very nice, actually a pearly taupe color if you were to look beneath the lighter tips. he is very tame and hopefully, will give our ewes a springtime of new lambs.

since i have become a shepherd, i have fresh outlook on the Christmas story. so after church on Christmas eve, i had an inspired idea. we'll all go out to the barn and read the story of Jesus' birth by lantern light with the sheep. i imagine the sweet smell of hay, the warm glow of the lantern light, and the gentle presence of our woolly little sheep. i had it partially right. the kids and hubby go along with my plan even though it is pouring rain, cold, and windy. we can't find the camping lanterns so we use our largest flashlights. the wind is blowing out of the south right into the 3 sided shelter of the shed.

yes, the shed smells of the sweet hay... and other things. the animal shelter is not quite as cozy and romantic as i imagined it would be on a Christmas eve. the animals look at us as if to say, "what in the world are you doing here now?" the wind blows damp and cold and the kids say, "hurry! read the story!" they are anxious to get back into the house, next to the fire with a mug of hot cocoa. so by flashlight i read the familiar story in luke,

"...and she gave birth to her first born, a son.
She wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn. ..."

i was feeling a little bit disappointed. it was not exactly the lovely Christmas memory maker i had hoped for... but then i realized, that must have been what mary and joseph felt as well, thinking, "was this the way Messiah should enter the world?" and all of Israel looking for a regal king of military might to come and rescue them from rome instead of the gentle savior who grew up to die in our place; to rescue us from the ultimate enemy: sin.

we have made the manger of luke chapter 2 a little too comfortable. the truth is, animal sheds are drafty and smelly, filled with more than sweet smelling hay. it reminds me a little bit of my own heart... where you'll find more than just sweet smelling love, and yet Jesus humbles himself to dwell there as well.

Jesus humbled himself and set aside his deity to become human with all that goes with it.

"Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death - even death on a cross."
Philippians 2:6-8


the miracle of Christmas ~ God become man ~ for my sake.

oh, my soul. kinda makes my ridiculous pride so... so... well... ridiculous.

forgive me, Lord Jesus. make me humble like you.

perhaps our Christmas eve outing was, in fact, very appropriate after all.


A very Merry Christmas to all of you!


everyday gift: the Christmas manger

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love it! Wonderful comparisons!
"God bless us, every one!"

Mom

rainydaymichele said...

Oh your new ram is beautiful! What a fabulous Christmas gift, friend.

And thank you for sharing your ideal Christmas moment as inacted in realty...Merry Christmas, Stacy!

rainydaymichele said...

That was supposed to say REALITY, not realty. lol. I know how those moments go, and I'm so glad you were able to find treasure in it. :)

Tonya said...

Merry Christmas! Maybe we can get together this week.

Chris said...

Beautiful Stacy! Thank you for reminding me that my "heart home" for Jesus is also filled with not-so-sweet odors and drafts and coldness... and yet He lives there! Merry Christmas my friend.

Anonymous said...

Before I forget....do you think we could get prints of B at the Christmas tree? It is sweet,sweet sweet!! Grammy (who else?)

Amy said...

This is what I love so much about you, Stacy! You take everything from God and you make it tangible and applicable to your children (and me!) You have such a way with words and life and experiences that make God REAL!

You are right, we have made it all too comfortable. Thank you for that reminder!