Love

Christmas Day
Wednesday December 25, 2013

 Read: John 1:1-14

 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.—John 1:14 

If you are actually reading this on Christmas Day, my guess is you arose early and have slipped away into a quiet corner for a brief meditation before the busyness of the day begins. Perhaps you got up early and made sure that everything is ready for guests that are coming.  When all seemed ready, you are now taking some time to catch your breath and slow down a bit so you can enjoy the family and friends when they arrive. Or you may have been busy all day opening gifts, sharing meals, playing in the snow. The company is gone or bedded down for the night, and the dishes are done –or not. It is the close of the day and you are exhausted as you mull over the events of Christmas with God. Perhaps you are like me. I have my family Christmas party earlier in December. My Christmas celebration begins at my church’s Christmas Eve Service and I spend a quiet day with just the Lord and me. While many of my family and friends worry about me being “left alone” on Christmas, I actually rather relish it. We introverted introspectives are weird like that. 

Whatever your style, at this moment, wrap yourself in God’s love. Find your comfort zone. Perhaps lying back in a recliner or setting with a pillow to your back or draped across the couch. Let God’s love seep through every muscle and bone in your body. Feel the warmth of God’s love in the very center of your being. Give God every thought, every pain, every problem, every joy. Breathe in deeply and slowly the presence of God with you. Breathe out anything that is separating you from being fully present to God. Repeat that a few times. Linger in God’s presence. When you are ready, read John 1:1-14. Feel the full impact of its message. God loves us. God did send Jesus Christ into the world, into our world, into our hearts. Experience the joy, fear, thanksgiving that that message has for you. Tomorrow you can take that experience forward into your life, today celebrate, for unto us a child is born.

 Prayer: Lord, I love you and I thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ. Amen.

All scripture passages are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version.