This year, I’m running toward Christmas . . .
Running like crazy, with joy, as a child would run toward a father or a beloved big brother. Running headlong, arms open, as fast as my little legs will carry me . . .
Into joy
With my eyes focused on the Christ Child.
I run to remember Bethlehem one star-strewn night.
To remember a hillside of quiet sheep, resting after a shining day full of grazing.
I run to remember . . .
♥
I settle back in against the hard wood pew, breathing in the light pine scent from fresh wreaths of pine boughs that grace the church as Christmas nears.
I close my eyes for a few seconds, thankful for a good year, anticipating the final two holidays before a brand new year.
♥
Reverend Hatch rises and walks to the pulpit.
Like a silent snow, holy quiet falls over the sanctuary
My back straightens as the Holy Spirit nudges me into deep listening. I pull in a breath.
I’m about to hear something wonderful.
Hatchie, as we lovingly call him, looks out over us and smiles and begins
“When God walked down the stairway of heaven with a tiny Baby in His arms, He came bearing the greatest gift the world has ever been given.”
The words race like a gentle fire into my mind, body, soul, and spirit—into the realm of wonder. Brushstrokes of color flow across my imagination.
From impossible white clouds in a star-pierced violet blue night sky, a figure of brilliant light descends a wide staircase.
Within God’s arms, a small, moving, living Being nestles in a blanket of light.
Above them hovers a transparent Presence, crystal waves of movement aglow with a palpable sense of power and love.
The Holy enters Creation.
Everything in me wants to kneel before the Holy Triumvirate.
I cannot move, captured in breathless awe.
♥
The Gift.
Delivered as I was and you were.
The Holy into humanity. Born to fill the void we came into the world with.
Born to fill the emptiness that nothing—no one but Jesus—can fill.
God is love, but He is just.
Born to save and free us from sin, He, the Lamb of God, came to sacrifice His humanity in our place . . .
and to prepare a place for us in Eternity.
God’s offered Gift.
Is our choice.
♥
Jesus told us “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3 NKJV).
An angel spoke to shepherds and to us “. . . and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'” (Luke 2:9b-11 NKJV).
To the woman at the well “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’” (John 4:13-14 NKJV).
♥
Will you run in thankfulness toward Christmas? Will you look up in joy and wonder and remember . . . ?
If you have a special Christmas memory I’d love for you to share it in the comments!
And just in case I don’t post again before Christmas, I’ll leave you with this~
A very Merry Christmas full of joy and blessings to you and those you love!
Love,
Sally
Elegant Staircases #Christmasjoy #MerryChristmas
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