Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
The following two stories are not new, nor are they TQOs (Tom Quick Originals). I enjoy revisiting them this time of year. I hope you do too.
On a cold January afternoon, a wealthy European family is hosting a christening service in their large country home. Many influential and equally wealthy guests were invited, and they show up wearing the latest winter fashions. Their expensive coats, hats and wraps are carried to a bedroom and laid on the beds. After the usual bit of conversation and commotion, they’re ready to start the christening ceremony. Someone asks, “Where is the baby?” The nurse is sent upstairs to look and returns empty-handed. The baby is nowhere to be found! After searching the house for fifteen minutes or more, a maid remembers seeing the child lying on one of the beds in the downstairs bedroom. They all run to the room - but it’s too late. They find the little child smothered under the expensive garments of the guests.
The main reason why they came to the affair had been forgotten, neglected, and destroyed. What was intended to be a joyous celebration turned into an awful tragedy. Unfortunately, many people this Christmas will forget and neglect the true reason for the season. The Christ child is smothered by the wrapping paper, tinsel, ribbons, and make-believe that surrounds this holiday. Let’s be extra careful to not crowd Christ out of Christmas.
A devout family celebrated Christmas morning every year with a birthday party for Jesus. An extra chair of honor at the table became the family’s reminder of Jesus’ presence. A cake and candles, along with the singing of “Happy Birthday” expressed this family’s joy at the coming of the King. One year an old friend from out of town paid them a visit on Christmas afternoon. He asked the youngest in the family, five-year-old Ruth, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” She thought about it for a moment and then answered with a smile, “No, but then it’s not my birthday!”
The Humbled and Exalted Christ – Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Let this mind be in you…
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!