EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

 

I loved my grandma Lucy. She was a small-framed woman, had been orphaned when younger and then raised by relatives; this gave her much empathy for others. She was always a bit nervous and maybe thought too much about what others thought of her (oh, how I can relate at times). Her Bible was well-marked up, highlighted and the pages worn from reading.

I honestly am not 100% sure if she taught me this, but my childhood memory is that she did. Grandma liked traditions. At Christmastime she put a lot of time and energy into purchasing gifts, a lot of baking, cooking — her amazing layered Jello (a labor of love) and tree decorations. She wanted Christmas to be extra special for all the grandchildren, and it was!

It is Christmas. Do not x Christ out! It is not Xmas.

The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-19 NIV: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register.  So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Merry Christmas!

Robin (Beckman) Gudal, intentional in life, is a wife, momma, nana, friend, and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.