The Night Before Christmas

Empty manger, Perfect stranger
About to be born
Into darkness, sadness, desperate madness, creation so torn
We were so lost on earth, no peace, no worth, no way to escape
In fear, no faith, no hope, no grace & no light
But, that was the night before Christmas.
Warm hay, cold sweat
A mother, not yet, praying Godspeed the dawn
She looks to her man, holding her hand, they wonder how long
And the shepherds, wise men, come to find them and bow to a king
One star above, shining on love
So bright it lit up the night before Christmas.
And the world didn’t know mercy was meek & so mild
And the world didn’t know truth was as pure as a child
The night before Christmas…
The night before Christmas.
And the world didn’t know redemption was sweet and so strong
And the world didn’t know salvation was writing a song
The night before Christmas…
The night before Christmas.
Empty manger,
Perfect stranger
About to be born….
-"The Night Before Christmas" by Brandon Heath

I know I'm a day late in writing this, but I heard this song two days ago and it brought me to tears. Each year when reflecting on the meaning of Christmas I always think of the scene in Bethlehem and the details of that night. The older I get, the more I think of the emotions Mary & Joseph must have had that night. Were they scared? Were they cold? Were they comfortable? What was running through their minds? What did Jesus look like?
I'm not a mother yet but I can only imagine the mix of emotions Mary must have felt-a young girl, historically somewhere between the age of 12 & 15, about to give birth to a baby that would bring salvation to a world that had absolutely no idea. How can one even begin to comprehend such a thing? I think of our world today and wonder what it would be like had Jesus been born during this era. People would not believe it (obviously there were doubters even then). But how humbling it is to think that a pure little baby was born in a lowly place for the purpose of bringing humanity the knowledge of SALVATION and REDEMPTION. Did they fully understand the magnitude of this child's birth? It must've been hard for Mary to know that the child she cared for, nurtured, loved on, played with & disciplined would grow to be hated by so many unbelievers. She was to love this child, watch him grow to be an adult and then witness his sacrifice for all mankind-even the very ones who put him on the cross his final day. She was to give up her son. Her baby. It's a mind-blowing thought when I try to put it in perspective.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Anyway, as I've reflected on the meaning of Christmas, I am full of hope and reminded of the greatness & love of the Lord--to give to us His one & only Son to show this hurting world that there is something beyond our momentary troubles. To bring HOPE and GRACE. To show us the way.

What a beautiful scene it must have been that night in Bethlehem. And the world didn't know...
I wish I could've been there.

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas! I pray it was blessed and you were reminded of the reason for the season!

Blessings,
Abby