Give Him Christmas

The sky seemed darker. Moody. Red. Bloody. Like God in Heaven was showing His own despair, and mourning along with her. If only she could have done something to stop this.

Her Son was nailed to a couple pieces of wood.

God's Son.

Tears streamed down her face as he lifted his head. She could tell the action pained him greatly. He struggled to hold in his cry of agony.

Blood streamed down his face and continued like a river down the rest of his body. She could hear people mocking, taunting, and laughing at him. The guards had just finished casting lots for his robe! Very few people here cared that he was dying.

She hated this. She hated this plan. Why? Why did God allow this? Why did He send her a miracle baby only to let him die? Why did Jesus do this? Mary dropped to her knees. She couldn't handle this. It was killing her. Slowly, as he died, she died. It was like someone was stabbing her soul and letting the blood run free. She wheezed, unable to catch her breath.

Thunder rumbled. Perhaps it was God shouting his own anger. She wasn't alone in this. The Lord didn't like it any more then her. She didn't know why, but she needed to trust Him. Somehow, someway, this would save them all.

Based on John 19:25-27

"But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." John 19:26

Merry Christmas Eve to you all!! :)

So being a new mother and it being Christmas and all, I've had Mary and God on my mind.

I think about Mary seeing her Son dying on the cross. A miracle Son that God had entrusted her to care for and love. A Man she had raised to be good and caring. A Son who knew more then her. I think about that sweet, little baby Jesus she held in her arms. I think about Mary's shock and appreciation when Jesus took care of her when He asked John to love her like his own mother.

Then I think about God letting His Son come to our world, a world that mostly hated Him. His Son who died for people who can be so ungrateful...us. His Son who was and is eternally royalty being reduced to a servant and claimed by mere men to be a criminal.

And then I think about my baby. If someone tried to hurt her, I would do ANYTHING to keep her safe. But Mary was submissive to God's plan even though it was difficult. God still let His Son go to save us. Jesus still choose to die for us.

We all talk about giving and thankfulness this time of year, but we secretly focus on all the cool stuff we hope to get. However, Christmas is about giving, but even more then that, it's about the sacrifices that were made for us. The ultimate sacrifice made for us. It was made for family. Us. Next time we fight God on a sacrifice we need to make, we should give Christmas back to Him. He is family, after all. Give Him Christmas, too.

V. Joy Palmer