Christmas - this week!

This year, until almost mid December, I was rather blissfully unaware of the coming Christmas celebrations. Yes, I've had the Advent candles out, but that was all. I had prayed through the Nativity scenes in the gospels a couple of months ago, and have moved on to the public life of Jesus. Therefore, last week or so, i was suddenly 'awakened' when i realized how time was passing! The past ten days have been a bit of a rush to get appropriate gifts, wrap them and even to pass them to friends who would not be around at Christmas. Then the recipe books came out of storage and i pored over them. Well, the weekend just past has been a baking 'frenzy' - the fruit cake turned out well, and two types of cookie, but one other batch of cookies was a failure! Today, i was trying out some finger snacks - and managed to get a 'baked' (rather than deep fried) wonton done fairly well. I am 'cheating' on the main dish - bought a frozen preroasted chicken with stuffing! Though now i realize i need to make a sauce!

How amazing that our Lord came to us without much fanfare. He chose such a humble setting of a stable or barn, rather than a house to be born in, and was acknowledged first of all by a group of simple country shepherds. Now, each Christmas, we remember with gratitude the birth of our Lord. It may also be a time to ask what his birth means to us.....

"A tiny, fragile baby.....that's how You came to us. A Lord and King who chose no fanfare to herald Your arrival. You came as a babe, helpless an dependent. How could it be this way? Somehow i can never fully comprehend this powerless way of Yours. I prefer a 'mighty' God who comes in power. Lord, what does it mean that You clothed Yourself in human flesh....does it mean, for one thing, that i can learn from You how to be more fully human? Lord, You are the gift beyond all other gifts.....a gift that has to be unwrapped one layer at a time, slowly, with deep gratitude"