Seasons Greetings from Anita!🎄
After a hectic day in the impatient big city, wrestling cars all going too fast, the familiar trip home gets easier but darker the closer I get. Off the highway, the patched blacktop curves with surrounding pastures and clumps of sleeping cattle.
I’m wary of yellow eyes up ahead, deer crossing.
Finally home, opening our gate, I’m wrapped in utter stillness and take a deep breath. The world appears drenched in uncountable glittering stars. The vastness and majesty is breathtaking. As my eyes adjust, the westward procession of constellations overhead capture me.
In this Christmas Season, my thoughts turn to the shepherds of old, watching over their flocks at night, awake to lurking danger. Their skies even darker, no light anywhere across the earth, but for the moon and stars and infinite galaxies beyond.
Ordinary working men carrying the tools of the trade, a staff to guide or rescue an errant lamb. Living outdoors, they were deeply connected to the earth and sky. They weren’t afraid of much, familiar with wild beasts lurking, but when one of God’s dazzling angels appeared it was terrifying!
God chose these flawed, normal guys, to receive the greatest message of all time. He does that all through out the bible. Moses didn’t think he was a good enough speaker, the prophet Jeremiah thought he was too young, the Apostle Paul went from being one of Christ’s most fierce opponets to one of His most passionate proclaimers.
Luke 2:8-20
8Â And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9Â And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10Â And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11Â For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12Â And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13Â And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Â Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15Â And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16Â And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17Â And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18Â And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19Â But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20Â And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The most wonderful gift of all time!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And Merry Christmas to you and yours, Anita. Thanks for reminding us of the reason for the season. In these dire times it never hurts to remember this is all part of God's plan. Remain faithful and all will be well. I've read the book. I know how it ends. We're going to be fine.
Wonderfully written — Christmas blessings all round, Anita!