New joys at Christmas
After I’d spent a special Christmas Eve with my sons and their girlfriends, I planned to spend Christmas Day quietly cherishing the gift of Christ Jesus’ birth, life, and ministry. As I was praying that morning about how to share this supreme gift with others, the question came: “Does everyone in my community know the real reason for this holy day?” As we all know, Christmas has become a buying bonanza. And in some public spaces, mentioning the birth of Jesus at Christmastime is frowned upon.
More ideas flooded my thought, and I felt led to act on them in this way. First, I printed up two signs. They said: “Do you know the story of the birth of Jesus?” and “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men” (a paraphrase of Luke 2:14 ). I put the signs in standing frames, and along with a tablecloth, holiday runner, nativity scene, cookies and dates, a couple of different Bible translations, and several illustrated children’s books on the nativity of Jesus, took off to my local harbor.
After setting up at a picnic table along the walkway, I smiled and greeted passersby, and read a bit from the Christian Science Bible Lesson. People were genuinely happy to see me doing this and gave me thumbs ups, big smiles, and even exclamations of “Thank you for doing this!” Several people stopped to look and take a date (which was part of Jesus’ diet) or a cookie, and we had some lovely discussions on the Bible. I also had an issue of National Geographic with the cover story that celebrated 400 years of the King James Bible.
Soon, a fellow, who was apparently a gang member, asked if he could sit down and read. He spent some time at first browsing through the National Geographic. I felt like the Christ-child in him was sincerely wanting to feel God’s peace, but I had the feeling the magazine was too difficult for him to read. When some others stopped by, I mentioned how inspiring the children’s books were and that they could be enjoyed as much by adults. The fellow took one and really began reading it. It was a very holy atmosphere—we were truly feeling the presence of the Christ. He stayed for about an hour, and I offered him some cookies before he left. I was glad to be able to serve my community in this way. Eugene Peterson writes in God’s Message of Christmas Love, “Everything about Jesus spoke of servitude. … God delights in giving—it’s what he does best.”
As the next year began, I cherished the idea of sudden joys and surprises. A few days after Christmas I was enjoying some prayerful time at the beach. The past year had been challenging, with worries about family history sometimes getting the better of me. Then I heard the message that the only history is His Story—God’s story! At that moment I heard the laugh of a father playing with his young daughter in the ocean. He was overcome with pure delight over his “Princess” running through the waves trying to reach him. Each time she’d reach him, he would swoop her up in his arms and swing her around. The “Princess” was giggling with mutual delight. Each time the father would encourage his daughter to come a little farther out into the waves. And each time she reached him, he would raise her high about the waves in a tight embrace. When they were quite a ways out, waist-high in the water, he sat her on his shoulders and they just stood and watched the sunset for a while. I wish I’d had my camera!
I cherished the idea of sudden joys and surprises.
I realized this picture was a gift from God, an analogy of God’s great love and care for us all. Our divine Father-Mother feels the same unbounded love toward each one of us—Her dearly loved princesses and princes. As we run toward God with expectancy, prayer, and joy, She embraces and protects us with new inspiration and healing gratitude. The serenity we feel keeps us above the waves of discordant human opinions and turbulent times. Consequently, I’ve felt much stronger in standing up for my highest sense of right, and I know that God blesses these stands.
To top off the Christmas season, on New Year’s Day, while I enjoyed a picnic dinner alongside the harbor with my son and his girlfriend, two dolphins spouted a greeting to us. It felt like another “sign” from God of bountiful love and joy, with the promise that His tender care and abundant goodness will continue forever. So let’s be expectant of new and sudden joys, embracing not only ourselves, but all of His children!
