Chezem Trail: December 2010

Since becoming a mother, my perspective on the Christmas Story has changed greatly. I know the story inside and out, was an angel (and once the star--literally) in many Christmas Eve pageants. Our housing development is peppered with sweet nativity scenes. It's all beautiful, joyful...sterile. Mary, mother of Jesus, not only didn't have our modern advantages in childbirth, it's unlikely she even had the advantages of her own time. A stranger to Bethlehem, she didn't have the help of sisters, mothers, aunts--women who had been through and assisted with many births. She didn't have a lovingly prepared birthing area, filled with clean cloths and water to wash in. She had Joseph, and a stable. We've romanticized the stable too, making it a pretty little barn with doe-eyed beasts kneeling in adoration. The real stable that Mary and Joseph stayed in was more likely a cave, and I imagine the animals kept there were somewhat alarmed by the pangs of labor. I think that we like to think that Jesus, being God, was born painlessly and easily--the perfect birthing experience. But we know that when Jesus was later nailed to a cross, that he could bleed, that he felt physical pain, that his human body had normal physical responses. Why would we think differently of Mary, who was not divine?

Yes, I think differently of the Christmas Story now. It's messier, less pretty. There are emotions attached to it now--fear, pain, joy. Yes, still joy. Mary and Joseph were given the blessing of a son, Jesus, the Son. That first Christmas, the wise men still hadn't showed up--it took them a bit longer. Yes, the angels sent the shepherds to worship and bow down, but they were in no position to give gifts. The only gift given that first Christmas was the gift that would offer salvation to the world. Jesus humbled himself, while still fully God, to be limited to a human body and be born into this world.

Christmas brings new challenges to John and I as we navigate parenthood. We have very pointedly tried to avoid perpetuating the Santa Claus myth. Sam, being in kindergarten, gets that Saint Nicholas was a real man, but that Santa Claus is pretend. Daniel doesn't so much get that yet. So this year, when they told each other, "You're going to end up on the naughty list and then you won't get any presents!" we started talking about the differences between how Santa gives and how Jesus gives. Santa gives based on merit; if you're good, you get rewarded, if you're naughty you're penalized. Jesus gave all of himself, even unto death, holding nothing back, even though none of us deserved the gift of grace. Santa gives what you earned if you word hard enough; there is nothing we can do to earn the salvation from Christ Jesus. We can only accept and be grateful for the free gift.

I know that a Christmas "newsletter" is supposed to be full of pictures, news, and family happenings. And I am promising you that I'll be vigilant and start updating and backdating entries and pictures. It's going to be a New Year's resolution, and you know how unbreakable those are. For now, I just wanted to share the best news: We celebrate Jesus' birthday because he was the greatest gift. He willingly died on the cross as the only possible perfect sacrifice to cover the sins of every person. We can't earn his salvation, we don't deserve it. Just like getting a Christmas present that someone sends because they love you--our only choice is whether or not to accept it.

Do you?