MARY’S DREAM
I had a dream, Joseph. I don’t understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about 6 weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They’d gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren’t for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They’d decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on top of the tree. It looked like how an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful! Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, but not to our Son. I don’t think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn’t it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate someone’s birthday if they don’t know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration, He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus not be wanted at His own birthday celebration. I’m glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real! – – -Author Unknown –
I remember the gut wrenching emotion when I read this 27 years ago. Had I taken for granted or taken so lightly the greatest gift ever given by God to mankind? Had I become so busy with man’s traditions that my focus was more on those things than Jesus? Would Jesus feel like he was not welcomed instead of being the focus in this sacred season? Was I missing an opportunity to tell others around me about the good tidings of great joy for all people? You see, the God of the universe sent His Son, Jesus, to us in a miraculous way. Jesus set aside the glory of His deity, not His deity, and came to earth as a human. This baby in a manger was fully God and fully man. BUT, the story of His birth isn’t the end of the story. Jesus was born to die. He lived a perfect life in obedience to His Father and humbled Himself as a servant and died a death on the cross He didn’t deserve in my place. He victoriously rose from the grave conquering death and providing everlasting life for those who would trust in Him.
Father God, thank You for the greatest gift of all time, Jesus! May our reason and focus for celebrating this season be centered around this Savior. Hallelujah for the good news that causes great joy to ALL people! A Savior has been born; He is the Christ, the Lord! Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
Laurie Kollar
CHM guest Contributor
