First Christmas - Glory to God in the Highest

First Christmas

My soul longs for the Lord to return and take us all home to our “heaven home” forever.  As Bill was dying he said he wanted to go home.  I told him that he was home (knowing full well he knew where he was and where he wanted to be).  He said “No, my heaven home”.  He had rid himself of all earthly desires and trappings.  He was ready to be home with the Lord.  To rest from his suffering; to be healed; to receive his crown to lay at Jesus’ feet.

As our family gathered in our living room together each Christmas Eve we read God’s Holy Word, the Bible.  Bill would quietly read to us Luke 2 and then we would pray together.

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²² And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

²³ (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

²⁴ And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

²⁵ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁶ And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷ And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

²⁸ Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

²⁹ Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

³⁰ For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹ Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

³² A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

After reading we would allow the children to open one gift before going to bed.  In later years our daughter convinced us that it would be best to open a second gift too.  After the children were in bed Bill and I would take care of sorting, assembling and wrapping gifts.  No matter how hard we tried we could not complete the task until well after midnight.  We would wake them early in the morning by ringing jingle bells at the front door telling “Santa” thank you and Merry Christmas.  They knew the “whole” story.  But we taught them about the fun of Christmas and enjoying the tale.

In junior high school I started singing in the church choir.  I would attend church on Christmas Eve.  My church had a candlelight service.  It was beautiful.  Following a service of song and sermon everyone would have a candle.  The deacons would light the first candle of each pew and they would pass the light to everyone in their pew.  The symbol of Christ’s birth being the light of the world and we were passing that light on, singing hymns of praise.  Once all the candles were lit we would lift our candles high and sing a final hymn together.  The experience always made me cry.  Since we have been married we have never found a service like that again.  We had attended several Christmas Eve services over the years but nothing like I had experienced.

My heart has ached throughout this Christmas season.  I’ve tried to make Christmas special this year, but it just didn’t happen.  I didn’t have the capacity or energy to see ahead and plan.  I live today to wake up and do the same tomorrow without purpose or plan.  I didn’t even comprehend that Christmas was this week.  I realize now that there is nothing I can do to change what has happened in our family; the deep sense of loss and grief.  I can only pick up the pieces and give them to the Lord to put back together in a new way.  I know He will in His time according to His Will.  I would have it no other way.  To be hidden under the shadow of His Wings.  Protected, hedged in by the power of His Grace.

This evening we read Luke 2 to begin a new chapter and pass on to our grandchildren the truth and promise’s of God Word through the birth of his Son Jesus Christ.  We will continue to pray for our children and future generations to come to know the God of our Salvation through His Holy Son our Lord.  May you also be blessed by it’s reading.