I remember watching the TV series All in the Family years ago and I was reminded of an episode that had a memorable dialogue between wife Edith and Archie Bunker. They were both at Edith's high school class reunion and Edith encounters an old classmate by the name of Buck who, unlike his earlier days. had now become excessively obese. Edith and Buck have a delightful conversation about old times and the things that they did together, but remarkably Edith doesn't seem to notice how much Buck has changed. Later, when Edith and Archie are talking, she says in her whiny voices "Archie, ain't Buck a beautiful person." Archie looks at her with a disgusted expression and says: "You're a pip, Edith. You know that. You and I look at the same guy and you see a beautiful person and I see a blimp. Edith gets a puzzled expression on her face and says something unknowingly true, "Yeah, ain't it too bad." I thought about that difference between the tender Edith and the caustic Archie and how people look at Christmas. We all have access to the Biblical account; we all experience the season to some degree or another…but we all don’t end up with the same Christmas. Some folks will see it as just a day off, a reason to be with family, or a commercial ploy. And others will see it as a tender and yet powerful gift and message from the hand of the God of the Bible. But I wonder if it was that way on that first Christmas night. Did the people in Bethlehem or Jerusalem have any idea what happened right there next to them? Or was it a day just like any other day? For some this was just another Jewish boy being born away
from home, cute but nothing special to celebrate. But for others, they were able to see the hand of God with the message that the people of the earth were important enough and loved enough that God would do a miracle that would be not only for them but for every person who could recognize it for what it was. Maybe like Edith Bunker, the difference started in the heart, that allowed Mary and Joseph and shepherds and wise men to see what others could not. So this Christmas take care to let your mind know the story, but also be open to the love that is given that night to the race of humans. And maybe you’ll be asking others this Christmas, “Do you see what I see?” Ask God to open both your mind and your heart to the joy and the majesty of the gift of Christmas to the world…and also to all those to whom you wish a Merry Christmas. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Luke 2:9-11 NLT Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, (10) but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (11) The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
from home, cute but nothing special to celebrate. But for others, they were able to see the hand of God with the message that the people of the earth were important enough and loved enough that God would do a miracle that would be not only for them but for every person who could recognize it for what it was. Maybe like Edith Bunker, the difference started in the heart, that allowed Mary and Joseph and shepherds and wise men to see what others could not. So this Christmas take care to let your mind know the story, but also be open to the love that is given that night to the race of humans. And maybe you’ll be asking others this Christmas, “Do you see what I see?” Ask God to open both your mind and your heart to the joy and the majesty of the gift of Christmas to the world…and also to all those to whom you wish a Merry Christmas. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Luke 2:9-11 NLT Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, (10) but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (11) The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ