Christmas is Almost Here!

Celebrating the reasons for this most important season

FROM THE NEST

Hello dear friend! Tis’ the season, isn't it?

The Christmas Tree is brimming with lights and ornaments, the stockings are hung, the gifts are bought and the hopes are climbing for what the season may bring. And, honestly, that is wonderful. It's a beautiful season indeed.

But do you know what has become one of my favorite things about this season? Advent devotionals. Yes! That's right! On the Bible app on my phone you can read as many Advent devotionals as your little heart desires. And these devotionals help me stop, think, remember and celebrate the real meaning of this season. They remind me of all the people it took and things required to fall into place for Jesus to make His entrance into our humanity.

First, there was Zecharias and Elizabeth. Long barren they had given up hope on having children. Then one day Zecharias was just doing his job and an angel showed up and interrupted his day! He discovered that Elizabeth was going to get pregnant and they were going to raise a boy named John who would prepare the way for our Savior. The interruption that day cost Zecharias his voice, as he wouldn't be able to speak again until Elizabeth brought John into the world.

Then a few months later, there was Mary. What an amazing young woman she was... so wise beyond her years and willing to say yes when the same angel showed up and interrupted her day. And her life! Her yes to that interruption was the most marvelous yes of our existence. This interruption cost Mary her reputation, it nearly cost her a marriage to Joseph and it clearly changed the trajectory of her life.

Next, dear Joseph had to make the hardest decisions of his life when an angel interrupted his dreams and told him to take Mary as his wife and they were going to raise their (our) Savior! That interruption cost him as much as it did Mary. I don't think any one of us can imagine doing what they did in the culture of their day. Mary could have been stoned to death. Joseph would know just how incredibly difficult life would be. But yet they all said, "Yes."

I mean seriously, that's just the beginning of the miracles that had to line up for Jesus to step into our world into our humanity.

At this point, John has been born and the time had come that Joseph had to take his very pregnant wife on a journey to Bethlehem for a census. Can you imagine what an interruption that census was? You all know this part of the story don't you? This poor couple showed up to find there was no room at the inn and the innkeeper was kind enough to let them stay in the stable.

In the following hours Jesus was born and his parents marveled at this little life. All the interruptions of a lifetime were worth looking into the eyes of this little boy.

So, let's remember during this incredibly busy season that interruptions have all the potential to be a preparation for an amazing gift in our lives. Let's remember also that our "yes" is not only a response, but a powerful posture to hold. Just imagine the incredible hope that can transform our lives can come through an interruption (at what could feel like an inconvenient time) and saying yes can lead to a genuine change in the trajectory of our lives.

We wish you nothing but joy and may every good and perfect gift from above be yours this Christmas season.

Toni, Robbie and the Eagles Nest Staff