It’s Christmas Eve. The fire is lit, packages wrapped,
Christmas breakfast brunch made, and everybody is tucked into their beds
awaiting Christmas morning. Yea right! This is what you see in movies like Miracle on 34th Street, but
really I imagine it more like this…kids still up fighting over whose hot chocolate is better as one gets spilled all over the counter and gets on the tissue paper of someone's present. That someone is not happy and will undoubtedly end up in tears before the night is over, while mom and dad are furiously trying to finish wrapping presents without the presence of little eyes watching over them:) Finally, to calm everyone down the family decides to read the christmas story from the Bible, but of course only child really cares about the story while the others are playing with each other or toys nearby...not exactly the same picture as the movies huh?
Sometimes, I read the christmas story with this same expectation of the perfect night. Let's recall some key facts that might remind how us unsettling a night it might have been. To start off, Mary and Joseph were not this happy couple that had dated for 3 years and been engaged for another year. Reality says they were probably in an arranged marriage and just met one another before her pregnancy! Can you imagine bringing a child into this world with a man you barely know? If that isn't enough, remember that Joseph had thoughts of divorcing Mary after the pregnancy was known. Again, can you imagine the parents of our Savior entertained thoughts of divorce?! How different of a story would that have been? Then after Christ is born, the king of the country hires out all his military personnel to look for YOU, and not just search, but orders to kill!! This was not the most peaceful time the country had known.
When I remember these things and think about the chaotic and restless reality of that night Christ was born, I am somehow comforted by my own crazy nights. Remembering Christ came into this world at a time of unrest (politically, spiritually, and every other kind) and yet I have my own times of unrest in this season all the time! God, I continually need you as my Prince of Peace to reign in my heart and mind this season. May your peace seep through all the crevices of our lives.