A Holy Night

Driving home from the airport this morning at 6:00 am amidst the lack of sun and traffic, of kids and chatter, gave me time to listen to the words of a lovely Christmas song streaming from the radio.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth....

In the past month, I've been listening to Christmas songs as much as i listen to my children chatter - so that's alot! And there are alot of songs out there that have nothing to do with Jesus' birth.

They're not bad. In fact, many of them stir up heart-warming memories that i can't even begin to put into words.

But some of them also stir up the frenzy that the holidays can whip into without warning.

And so, when i reached this 23rd Day of December with only 2 days left 'til Christmas -- really, only 1 day to complete my to-do list -- i realized clearly the frenzied edge my soul was teetering on.

But as the words to that sweet salutation to Jesus' birth streamed out of my car speakers, it began to dawn in my heart of hearts the wonderfulness of the season.

Gratitude and appreciation for Jesus arriving on earth as He did that holy night...

The celebration of the miraculous birth of a sweet baby...

They're all miraculous events and all sweet bundles, but JUST the WONDERFULNESS of HIS birth, of His choosing me/us/you/my family/my community.....

Then i came across this verse in today's reading from our ladies blog at church:

Nahum 1:15
Look! Striding across the mountains --
a messenger bringing the latest good news: peace!
A holiday, Judah! Celebrate!
Worship and recommit to God!
No more worries about this enemy.
This one is history. Close the books.

I found this prophet's message to those people so many years ago was, in fact, speaking to me this Christmas.

At the first Christmas, the sky filled with messengers proclaiming "Peace!"
It's a holiday, [Heather], time to Celebrate!
Throw off the cookie-crusted oven mitts! Toss the glittering wrapping paper and tape!

Lift those bared hands in worship! Wrap your life and heart and soul beautifully in recommitment to God and His way of loving and living and serving and trusting! The stress and selfishness and soul-craziness are history. Close the books.

And may i celebrate the birth of Jesus with as much -- with more -- tenderness and gratefulness and appreciation and love and selflessness as i do that of my children, realizing the impact of a baby born so long ago on a world He loved more than a pristine - even, clean - place to be born, a world He loved more than His life, a world He loves and calls me to love.

It was and will be a Holy Night.

Happy Birthday, Jesus. I love you.