Advent 16

Our Advent Activity today was celebrating my son. The day he was born was peaceful and the world was hushed by snow. His arrival was slow and sweet and I spent the next two days cozied up with him in the hospital while the world also slowed thanks to a storm not often seen in these parts. We walked home the next day, our first-born pulled on a sled with our bags and our newest slung against his father, sheltered by the jacket while the snow fell and fell and fell all around us.  It is such a blessing, this memory of his arrival and my heart is quieted every year on this day remembering it.

That boy is now four and ... and there aren't words for him. He is a kid that people just seem to love. Not merely like - people of all ages and spaces end up with crushes on this boy. I know I see through my Mom Eyes and we all know those eyes don't see clearly so I may have misunderstood how he lives in the world, but truly, he's That Guy. He just is.

He is funny and a story-teller and has a streak of kind with his sister that moves me. He is smart in a direction I don't have and understands how things work, complicated, hard-to-figure-out things.  He is handsome and wears pants well. He hugs like nobody's business and he says "I love you too Mom" every night at bedtime. He says thank-you at odd moments to all the right people.

He is light in this winter darkness and celebrating him is easy, every time.

Today when we read our Advent passage, we all noticed how yet again, the angels start with "Do not be afraid!" I love being able to underline that so much - God never talks to us in fear. Never. God's words to us are always, Don't Be Afraid.  This is a powerful word this week, isn't it? Don't be afraid.

In this case, the angels announce the good news, that a saviour has been born.  Surely the shepherds were thrilled.  But were they not a bit surprised to find out the Christ, the long-promised Messiah, would be found in the feed trough of a stable? That the very spot of his arrival in its un-kingly state would be the proof they needed that this was in fact The One?

I love this story so much! This is my God!

Luke 2: 8 - 14

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Glory to God in the highest! Today and all days. Even the darkest nights. Glory to God!