This morning we are in California. Had a safe, short flight yesterday from Arizona. All of our family will be at our oldest granddaughter’s home for Christmas. What a joy! I hope you will be understanding if I miss posting a couple of blogs over the next few days.
One of the things we did when packing for the trip was check the weather report. Long sleeve/short sleeve, polar fleece, rain wear, long pants, shorts, hikers or tennis shoes. All these were considerations for our wardrobe.
When we lived in Montana, we always had to look at the weather report, consider any possible storms and plan accordingly. Most anywhere we went we would have 3 passes to go over and winter travelling could be treacherous.
I’ve often wondered what the weather must have been like travelling to Bethlehem all those years ago.
I know it wouldn’t have been subzero but it can get cold in the desert regions or was there rain? Ladies, imagine this, 9 months pregnant, riding a donkey, sleeping under the stars. Regardless of the weather, it may have been perfect, but that’s not the time you want to try out the new tent and sleeping bags you just got from BassPro, right?
What was Mary thinking, this was certainly a “memory maker”? Did the trip affect her disposition? What questions did this young woman have, after all, it was her first pregnancy?
” So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. 17 When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child. 18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” Luke 2:16-19 ERV
As a mother, I sit here this morning remembering different Christmas mornings with my children and grandchildren. I pray that the significance of that first Christmas morning stays as the focal point in their lives long after I am gone.
Your Christmas celebration may not be perfect, Mary’s wasn’t. Don’t be sidetracked if things don’t go as planned. Keep your focus on the “reason for the season” and even if the weather is cold and gray, keep your heart merry and filled with love.
There are no words of gratitude that can possibly express my heart’s joy over the events of that first Christmas morning and how it’s changed my life.
Thank you, Father for loving me enough to give me the gift of Your Son and relationship of eternal life with You that first Christmas day.
Merry Christmas, Kristi! Thank you for your encouraging, thought-provoking blog posts. I so enjoy reading them each morning and they help me to align my focus for the day. Enjoy your time with family!
Merry Christmas April. Thank you for telling me that you are being blessed by the morning devotionals. I pray for all my readers each day and am glad to hear that you are one of them.