It’s Christmas morning – the house is quiet (for now). Everyone is still sleeping. There are just enough lights to illumine any obstacles in my path. As I look at the window the neighborhood is mostly dark, although even as I sit here I can see that one by one lights are beginning to appear in neighbors’ houses.
This is my favorite time of day – it is a time to reflect on the events of yesterday and ponder the plans for the new day. It is a time to pray – to give thanks for God’s presence and blessings and to seek His guidance for the day.
Today is different – today is a day to reflect on the greatest Gift ever given – to pray that others will understand and receive the Gift.
In a little while the house will be filled with activity. There will be little time for reflection or discussion about the significance of the day. We will pause to eat, give thanks and perhaps in prayer express gratitude but the day will be full of other things.
Perhaps today is a mirror of all other days. They are filled with work, play, crises, meetings, school events and TV. There is little time to reflect, pray, give thanks – to build a relationship with the One who came to give us life.
I like this time of day – I like the quiet – I like to be alone with Him. 2000 years ago a young couple – Mary and Joseph had time alone with the Son of God. It didn’t last long. Shepherds came. Sometime later there were the Magi. And then through the years thousands were wanting a glimpse of this teacher/prophet/miracle-worker.
Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. We need time to ponder in our hearts the things of Christ.
