Jesus, Linus and You

 
 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and 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'". That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."  - Linus

It is the Friday before Christmas Eve and I am - for some odd reason - thinking of births. There's the birth of my son, eleven weeks early, which I knew was coming and waited for with anticipation.  There's the  birth of my daughter, which I had no idea had even happened until the adoption agency called my wife to tell us to come pick her up (literally) the next day.  Some births are planned, some are a surprise.

Then there is the birth of Christ, planned by God, a surprise to man, and a birth which keeps happening...each and every day...in the hearts and minds of new believers as they come to Christ, and the rest of us who are born again every time we rediscvoer something new about Him, or about ourselves through him.  It is a blessing beyond measure, a blessing that transcends a dirty manger thousands of years ago and spreads open its arms to anyone willing to find, in a tiny little baby, one tiny little thing: hope.  A hope that leads to faith, a faith that leads to life, life as it was meant to be lived (as that little baby would grow up to tell us) a life that is lived for others.

So swaddle yourself in the love of Christ these next few days, and remember to swaddle others in that love as well. For Jesus wasn't only born to Mary and Joseph. He was born to you. His earliest cries can still be heard in every Christmas bell that rings. The light of his life is still shining in every light on every house. And that awe-inspiring hope that pulled a star across the sky and wise men through the desert? It burns right there in your own heart.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!