Matthew 1:22 says, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophets.” Rarely do we see Christmas as the fulfillment of a plan, yet that is exactly what it is. Before the creation of the world, God established the salvation plan and believers would be saved through a child, the man/God who came from heaven. And definitively, once and for all the supernatural intersected the physical world. Jesus was born.
Writing my parents each week has been a tremendous exercise as I deliberately stir memories that have been dormant for decades. Christmas if full of hidden jewels for me and I am ever increasingly thankful for my parents and my own family. Today I am remembering travelling with Brenda and my children. We worked just outside of Philly and my parents lived in Virginia. The church we served had a midnight candle lighting service I led. We would pack up the car before church, have the kids all bundled, and as soon as church was over, we would be on the road. The one year I most remember I forgot to fill up the car in advance. Have you ever tried to get gas on Christmas Eve in the 1980’s? Nothing was open.
We got within ten miles of my parents before we ran out of gas and this was before cell phones. Needless to say, it was precarious. All we could do was wait. We waited about thirty minutes and my dad showed up. He got anxious when we were late and came looking for us at 1 am, on Christmas morning. Remembering can be such a celebration. Of course, everyone tells me that is not exactly what happened. Does not matter to me. I am so thankful my memories make me smile.
I pray you make a memory this year that will make someone smile in the decades to come.
Merry Christmas!