Christmas
Morning 2018
TEARS
ON CHRISTMAS MORNING!
John 16:21
21
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as
soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born
into the world.
Luke 2:6-7
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.
My
wife and I
shared presents and tears this
morning as we opened one gift before beginning preparations for the day. We had
both carefully selected cards that had just the right words to convey our love
for each other. This is our 50th Christmas together! The gifts each
came with a story and the stories made the gifts even more special.
In
many ways
and for many people this Christmas has been what Dolly Parton would call a
“hard candy Christmas.” Pain, disappointment, and inconvenience has marred this
magical time with reality. The word anguish might aptly describe it.
The
word “anguish”
in John 16:21 is the Greek thlipsis
and it means “pressured, burdened, persecuted, and troubled.” Somewhere
within that description you will recognize your own set of circumstances but a
mother’s anguish doesn’t last and is soon forgotten when her babe is snuggled
in her arms. It is replaced with Joy.
My Christmas prayer is that whatever
troubles you today be soon replaced with Joy!
Joy
to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let
men their songs employ;
While
fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat
the sounding joy,
Repeat
the sounding joy,
Repeat,
repeat, the sounding joy.
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