Christmas Came Anyway- 2022

Remembering the Manger

It’s midnight. Christmas Eve just turned to Christmas in the Willis home, and I’m the sickest I ever remember being for Christmas. Twenty-Four hours ago, I was planning to worship with my wife and kids and our Link family in Lavaca for Christmas morning. My heart longs to be in God’s house, yet I’m realizing I will need to sit this one out.

Yesterday we gathered at Dad and Mom’s to celebrate the birth of our Savior. I thought this was just some allergy stuff that was trying to settle in my lungs. That may prove to be the case, but I now find myself so voiceless that I cannot talk to my kids, most of whom are still awake. My lungs are burning, and I’m struggling a bit to get air in. However, please don’t misunderstand this piece. It is not a complaint. It’s an act of worship. I am sick, but Christmas came anyway.

Some hours ago, I fell asleep. My kids opened a few things for Christmas Eve. I fell asleep while they played and slept for a few hours. I am unwell, but Christmas came anyway. The advent prayer, “Even so, come Lord Jesus,” resounds in my spirit. For years now, my wife and kids have sung a beautiful version of the advent prayer—"…like a bride waiting for her groom, we’ll be a church, ready for you. Every heart, longing for her King, we sing, even so come, Lord Jesus come. Even so come, Lord Jesus, come!” I am voiceless, but my soul still sings. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Come!

My mind is unconcerned with trivialities. While some debate the actual date of Christ’s birth and whether we should have trees or give gifts, I am reminded of the reality that the light of the world has indeed broken in upon the world, shattering the long night of sin. The one for whom no one was willing to make room on the night of His birth has made room for us through His death, burial, and resurrection. Shepherds worshipped Him. Wise men worshipped Him. His mother, Mary, and His adoptive father, Joseph, laid Him in a manger. As Mary said in the cinematic rendition of The Nativity, “He is for all of us!”

Herod wanted to kill Him, but God didn’t let him. He is for all of us! Wise men saw His star in the East and came to worship Him. Explain it however you wish, but He is for all of us! Shepherds were in their fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night, when “Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” He is for all of us!

As I sit here reflecting, I remember my dear sister who has gone before me to our Heavenly home. I miss her so deeply, and yet I am keenly aware that she is in the presence of the One who came to us in poverty so that we might come into His riches. I’m thankful for my sister and brother that are here while also missing the one who is there. Yet, by a profound mystery, we are still one. My beautiful Momma gave us a scare a few weeks ago and I feared we would lose her. God was merciful to us, and yesterday as we sat at her house, I was overwhelmed by the goodness of God. He gave us another year together. The sound of my children’s voices and laughter fills my home. I remember barrenness all too well, but today, my heart is full. I can’t speak, but my heart still sings.

That’s the mystery of the manger, isn’t it? Christ came without my effort. He came before I even existed and before I had the benefit of knowledge. Starlight illuminated the place of His birth. Heaven and Earth adored Him. He is for all of us.

In the old children’s tale called The Grinch, the Grinch was awakened from his Christmas hatred with this epiphany, “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” What if, indeed. I’m thankful for gifts, for food, and for family. But it means a little bit more. Indeed…a whole lot more.

Friday night we gathered with our Link family to celebrate communion by candlelight. Saturday, some members of our team gathered at the county jail to celebrate Christmas with some who cannot be with their families at Christmas. In the morning, I would have preached alongside my nephew and served communion with him at Link Lavaca. It looks like that will have to wait for another year. I wanted to be in God’s house together, but it’s ok. Christmas came anyway. He is for all of us. On this Christmas 2022, I leave you with this simple reminder from the Gospel:

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”

He is for all of us.

Merry Christmas to all my dear friends and family, both near and far. I thank God for you this morning. Remember, He is for all of us. Christ has come! Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

As we wait…

We remember His death,

We proclaim His resurrection,

We await His coming glory.

Life Lesson

We don’t get to choose when we are sick or when we are healthy, but we do get to choose our attitude and perspective. Some days are hard. Worship anyway. Sometimes things are easier than at other times. Still, the most fruitful moments are not necessarily the easiest moments. Remember the manger. Remember the cross. Remember what Christmas is all about. In Christ, nothing is without meaning.