Finding Baby Jesus

Just yesterday as I was driving to work I was reminded of a memory that brought tears to my eyes and that endless sigh to my soul. As I listened to the radio, the DJ said something about baby Jesus. I don't know what it was, but I found myself reaching back to Christmas past.

I had not thought much about it in years due to the separation and divorce that ravaged my family, but here I was crying over a good memory of the past and honestly it hurt. When the kids were very little, and it still brings tears to my eyes, my wife and I would talk to the children about baby Jesus coming for Christmas. As Ann and I talked about it we decided to make things more real and interactive for the kids. In doing so we decided to find a baby doll, wrap him in a cloth diaper and put him in a little basket with hay in it Christmas Eve after the kids went to bed.

For a week before Christmas the kids would talk non-stop about being so excited about finding baby Jesus under the tree. When people would ask our kids what they wanted for Christmas all they would say was "I'm excited because baby Jesus is coming." They would talk to each other about holding him, kissing him and not being able to wait to see him.

As Christmas Eve came Ann and I would scurry to make sure baby Jesus was put in the basket leading us to the 2:00 AM search and destroy missions to make sure he was there. The most rewarding thing was seeing the reaction of the kids. Here is Christmas Day and our children were so enamored with baby Jesus that their gifts were almost meaningless and even argued who would be first to hold the baby. For the next couple hours and even in to the next several days the kids guarded and took care of baby Jesus until we had to put him away for the next year.

As Christmas is just around the corner the question remains are you looking for Jesus with full anticipation or are you sitting on the sidelines? If you are looking for Jesus are you seeking Him putting all other things aside looking forward to spending hours with Him?

Jeremiah 33:3 reads, "Call on me and I will show you great and mighty things that you do not yet know." Some interpretations say "things that will blow your mind!"

God is looking for a people who has a heart, hunger and desire for Him. He is looking for someone who cannot wait to see what He alone has for their life.

Reflecting on those fond memories with my family are things I cannot forget. I cannot forget the passion and conversations and even opportunities of talking about Jesus with my kids and seeing the excitement they had for God's gift, Jesus even above the gifts they were given.

John 3:16-
"For God so loved the world (YOU) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

This Christmas accept God's greatest gift for you; Jesus. Wait with excitement and anticipation on Him as a child. Reflect on God's goodness and if it is hard to see that, call on Him and He will show you things that will blow your mind!

Merry Christmas!

CAL