Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Don't Be Afraid

Jesus is born!

Change has been a significant part of my life. It is a fact that I have learned to live with and on many levels embrace. Change can be enlivening, like a breath of fresh air. But it is good to also have a few things in one's life that are consistent.

This manger is one that I have had for almost 50 years. I set it up as a child and now my daughter continues the tradition. This year, however, another change took place and our daughter went away to college but she wanted to set up the manger when she came home. Carefully unwrapping each figure she decided where it should be place. While the location of the manger is different in each of our homes I again cherished its familiarity and how year after year it was unchangeable.

It is for me a symbol of the unchangeable character of Jesus. While the world around me spins at the center is this baby, God incarnate, who came that I might have not just life but abundant life. That is his unchangeable gift that lasts no matter the changes that come my way. I have no idea what 2009 will bring!

May you know the unchangeable presence of Jesus this Christmas and throughout this coming year. Thank you for reading my meditative attempts and I pray that God has used them in some way to bring his unchangeable nature into your life.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This blog touched a very tender place in my heart. How well I remember the purchase of that Nativity set numerous years ago at the Bible Book Store in Bellflower--one that I thought you could touch, handle and enjoy without being told to be careful "not to break it." Little did I know years ago that one day your daughter would find it also a special memory. I loved the picture. What a beautiful reminder that although many, many things in our lives change, there are those parts of life that remin constant and the most important being that of our precious Lord and Savior with whom there is neither variableness or shadow of turning. MCJ