Our First Christmas
For from His fullness, we have received grace upon grace. John 1:46
As the celebration of Christmas day approaches, our Christmas looks different here in Addis Ababa. There are no decorations outside stores, no Starry Nights at Shelby Farms to drive through, no PDS Christmas pageant, no Jam cake (my mom’s family recipe), no Christmas music in stores, no cold weather with coats. The mom inside me wakes up early and stays awake at night wondering how I can create a sense of anticipation and celebration without all the things?? How do I make Christmas cookies without cookie cutters ? ( don’t worry, I added them to my list for next year) How do we celebrate without being with our extended family? I find myself wanting to set new traditions for advent and mark our Savior's birth. Traditions are important to our hearts to bring a sense of belonging and comfort in knowing. But for a new year where we need new things to do, the preparation offers a new perspective. Being in a different country that celebrates Christmas differently and even on a different day, is begging my heart to see and remember how and who we really celebrate.
We are doing some traditional Christmas events. Our church has a women’s christmas tea every year. It was decorated beautifully, and we sang Christmas hymns and had a beautiful gospel presentation in a short drama. At our house, we pulled down the decorations we packed 2 years ago, and somehow the LORD provided just the right amount of ornaments for our small tree and decorations for our house. Yes the decorations help, but just like anything else with the gospel, God desires our hearts surrendered to HIM, not just our obedience to a tradition. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! We have seen His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth. (John 1:14). We get to see HIS glory in Jesus. The other day I visited one of our church members, and I saw this glory so clearly, Jesus in her. Her husband has been in the hospital for 2 months. She goes to the hospital all day everyday to see him twice a day. Yet she is radiating with the glory of the LORD. She had an almost angelic presence about her. I could see God reflected in her so clearly. That is Christmas! We have grace upon grace for each day to sustain us, to be with us in the hospital, be with us wherever we are in this world. God’s glory now dwells here with us.
Yes, I miss seeing family to celebrate Christ’s birth, but I am learning, it is not WHAT I do for my boys for Christmas, it is about WHO I want them to see. They can see Christmas reflected in me if I am filled with HIM. For from His fullness, we have received grace upon grace (John 1:16).
My soul magnifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in my God my Savior. Luke 1:46