More Than a Sweet, Children's Story

A chaplain our family knows once said, “The Bible is not a cute little book with cute little stories that give us moral messages.” Though our family already knew this, I appreciate the reminder every year. It's a thought worth deep consideration at Christmas and all year. The story of Jesus’ birth is not only a sweet Christmas tale to share with our children. It’s also the story of an actual event, one with eternal consequences for all humankind.

Just as the pilgrims really came over on the Mayflower and President Lincoln really did give the Gettysburg Address and Sacagawea really did help Lewis and Clark, God really did become man. Mary and Joseph were real people with real emotions who surely experienced a strange combination of wonder and fear and confusion and delight. The angels really did appear to the shepherds in the fields at night. Those shepherds really ran to find Jesus and told everyone all they had seen. The Magi really did follow the star to Bethlehem where they found Baby Jesus and offered their prophetic gifts. It happened; it’s real. Christmas is a time to embrace truth.

From this more grown-up point of view, it’s interesting (and helpful) to consider the different people involved in the story—combining our knowledge of the facts with our personal human experience to better understand historical people and events. Why did Zechariah doubt the angel? How great was Simeon and Anna’s anticipation? How overwhelming was their joy? What all did Mary ponder in her heart? What truly made the difference in Joseph’s mind? Those elements of the story go far beyond what our children can understand. Christmas is a time to dig in deep.

Still, never throw out the childlike wonder. Savor telling the “sweet Christmas story” to your children and grandchildren. Just make sure they know it’s true. It really happened! Then contemplate that reality yourself. Ponder it all in your heart, and praise God for what He has done—for you and for all humanity. Christmas is a time for wonder and awe.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

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