12 Days of Christmas by Pastor Nate
January 6, 2024

This devotional series has 12 entries intended to carry through the Liturgical season of Christmas. I searched my memory and surveyed a bunch of parents to come up with twelve actual thoughts we had during our first days as parents. Perhaps these are also thoughts Mary or Joseph had during those first few days in Jesus’ infancy.

I had no idea I had this much love in my heart.

Of course, more than anything else, the emotion that nearly every parent connects to the birth of their newborn child is love. In my experience, all of the clichés are absolutely true. I never knew I could love someone so much. It’s amazing how this little person can be just an idea one day and then the next day you can’t imagine life without them.

It seems so appropriate that the season of Christmas is all about the birth of a child, because as I’ve been saying, the birth of a child is filled with love, and in so many ways this season is all about love.

The reason that God became human, the reason Jesus was born is love. God’s love for humanity was so great that God chose the path of ultimate humility and became human. I love the way Paul describes it in his letter to the Philippians:

⁶ Jesus Christ, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

⁷ but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

⁸ he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

I like to joke that “Home Alone” is the most theologically correct Christmas movie. “Home Alone” is all about being with the people that you love, despite your disagreements and conflict. On that first Christmas, God made the incredible decision to literally be with the people God loved.

INVITATION: Opening our hearts and learning to love just a little bit more is always a worthy endeavor. Today, take time to try a “heart-opening” meditation.  Close your eyes and breath slowly and deeply. Please one hand on your heart and another on your stomach and notice how comforting it feels to connect with the movements of your breath and the beating of your heart. As you notice your heart beating, allow yourself to bring to mind the people you love. Don’t think about whatever might frustrate or annoy you about these individuals, just focus on the feelings of love you have for them. Then, with your hand still on your heart and eyes closed, take several breaths and allow yourself to realize that God holds these feelings of love for you. Let that Truth wash over you today.