We Made It Through Christmas

Our family had a wonderful Christmas. I haven’t posted much because I have really tried to stay off the computer and just enjoy my family and my time off from work. Unfortunately, I had to get back to work today.

The kids got way too much stuff as always, but they have had fun the last few days. Emma’s highlight was Molly, her American Girl doll and a new Trading Spaces dollhouse. Drew got a workbench and Tickle Me Elmo TMX, and Luke got a lizard, a 7″ long bearded dragon that is eating live crickets like crazy. Of course, I like all the kid’s toys as well. I’ve been playing Lego Star Wars on the computer with Luke, I’ve built with legos, I’ve played doll house with Emma, and Drew has been dragging me all over the house just wanting to show me all the new stuff.

But all the gifts have really frustrated me as well. It is so hard to keep our focus on Christ, when all the kids (and adults) are thinking about it gifts. What we are getting and what we are giving. So on Christmas Eve, we got the kids settled down a little and we read the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew. I have been wanting to really share and impress on the kids why Christ came, so I shared with them a story I heard a long time ago. I don’t know who told it or where it came from, but it has stuck with me. I want to share it with you just so you may think about why Christ came. Merry Christmas!

One Christmas, there was a man who was struggling. Not with trouble or hardship, but he was struggling with the meaning of Christmas. His wife and kids had begged him to attend church with them, but he could see no reason for going to church. It was crazy to think that God actually came down to earth. Why would God do that? It just didn’t make sense. So while his wife and kids went to church on Christmas Eve, he stayed home to watch a movie by the fireplace.

It was cold and snowing outside, and the chirp of birds caught his ear. He looked out the window and saw several little sparrows scurrying around looking for food. He knew they would surely freeze and starve to death, but he didn’t know what to do. He finally decided to put on his coat and head outside. He went out and opened the barn door, knowing if the birds would just fly in, they would be warm and find plenty of food. But when he opened the door, they just flew away. He saw them from a distance, but he couldn’t get them to come to the barn. Frustrated, he said to himself, “if only I could become one of them, I could save them. I could show them the way” It was then that it hit him, that is what Christ did. He fell on his knees right there and realized why Christ came. He came to become one of us, that he might show us the way to be saved.

Mike

I am a former design engineer who now pastors Cornerstone Community Church in Galax, Virginia. I'm passionate about following Jesus and I love technology. I've been married to Jennifer for 28 years, and we have three adult children.

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