Reflections on Christmas...

I could go on and on about the many wonderful things that made up my Christmas this year.  But it all comes down to one thing for me, the sound of someone getting rescued.  Let me take you back a week or so ago....

I was driving my little cousin Casey home from my house the other night when we heard a police siren.  Naturally, my body stiffens.  My eyes go directly to my speedometer, checking to see if I am speeding.  I was not.  Into the dark night, much to my relief, the red and blue lights of the police car sped by us. In the backseat, I heard Casey sigh happily and say,

“Ohhhh, I love that sound!”

That’s a strange thing for a seven year old to say, so I asked her why. Without missing a beat she said, “Because that’s the sound of someone getting rescued.”  The weight of her words took my breath from me for a brief moment.

Have you ever thought that?

I haven’t. When I see a police car with the lights on coming up behind me, my first thought is “Am I speeding?" or "Oh no, he’s coming after me!"  If the cop passes me, I wonder who he’s going after. I imagine someone has broken the law and is about to be caught.

Kids?  They get rescue. They get grace.

That’s how kids think. If you’re loved, you’re fully loved. If you’re in need of rescue, it’s coming. If you’re bad, you can still come home.

Kids get grace.

I think Christ wants us to get it too.  I don't know about you, but I struggle to really comprehend grace.  That’s why I think he wants us to have faith like a child.  They do not get bogged down by questions, doubts, fears and uncertainty.  They blindly trust.  That's how they can get grace.

Over these last few weeks, we have heard the Christmas story spoken and sung hundreds of times.  But don’t let the repetition dull you to its impact. It’s not myth. It’s not empty ritual. It’s not the soundtrack to a month of mindless consumerism.

It’s the sound of someone getting rescued.

Merry Christmas to you all!  I pray that you not only had joyful celebrations with your family and friends, but that you were overwhelmed by the fact that the Savior of the world came to save us so that you and I could live abundant life.  May the wonder of Christmas never escape us...