“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Luke 2:20
Lord Jesus, on this December 26th many of us are over-stuffed, under-slept, quite-spent, but mostly grateful. We’re thankful the 1st Christmas actually happened.
For those of us for whom Christmas has been/is sweet, we acknowledge you as the God from whom all blessings flow. For those of us for whom it’s been difficult, we say the same. You came into our broken world populated only with broken people. You didn’t come to be our butler, concierge, or masseur, but to be our Savior. Thank you for your commitment to make your “blessings flow far as the curse is found.”
Jesus, you “get it”—you understand messiness and brokenness. When you were one day-old, a “5-star” inn didn’t open up for your family—with great post-natal care for you and Mary. And when the shepherds left your manger, they were joyful but still shepherds. They didn’t write a book, go on late night TV, or start a “product line” of nativity memorabilia. They returned to a denarii-to-denarii lifestyle. But everything had changed.
When you inhabit the ordinary it becomes extraordinary. When you enter our “storms,” we have peace even before the storm is over. Even in the places where “death” is evident, because of you, we’re not foolish to wait for resurrection.
Jesus, for the remainder of 2022 (and the whole of 2023), restore our first-love for you—when we treasured and trusted above everything and everyone. Nothing is more important—whether we’re shepherds, ranch owners, or whatever. So very, VERY Amen.