Friday, January 6, 2023

Dear God,

Christmas is not over on December 25.  The story does not end there.  Absolutely not!  The rest of the story is the challenge to us about what we will do with the Christmas story.  For some it is the decision to engage Christmas, to kneel down, to bring gifts, to change and go another direction.  Epiphany is the day of decision.  The kings came, knelt down, gave their gifts to the babe, changed their minds about Herod and his mandate and went another direction.  Their hearts and minds were transformed.  They realized that star was more than they thought.  Perhaps they fell in love.  Maybe they became men of faith.  Their decisions changed the course of history.

This morning I moved the kings to the stable in my olive wood creche brought back from Bethlehem.  I made room for the kings and even the camel.  Somehow all looked right.  Before with the kings in the "east" missing on Christmas morning, it just didn't look right.  But today, well, all was as it was supposed to be.

I realize if I fail to respond to the story, I will miss portions of Christmas.  I won't make the connection between the kings and myself.  I will forget the opportunity to be transformed by my decision to say yes and go the distance.  I won't give gifts to the One who came to bring the greatest gift of all.  I will miss the celebration and chance to sing my praise by joining the angels, kings, shepherds, a mother and father and a new baby and even animals in a stable made holy.  No, the story doesn't end Christmas day; it continues for me when I say yes.

Loving God,

thank you

for the blessing

of Epiphany.

Thank you

for the challenge

and hope

that comes

with the

Christmas story.

Thank you

for allowing

me entry

to the stable.

Yours, Andrea