Christmas hope…am I spreading hope?

Bundled up against the frigid winter air, I lay on the snowbank beside the homemade skating rink and gazed up into the black sky hanging full of glittering stars, like ripe cherries ready for the picking.  The northern lights danced with greens and pinks and I dare say I could hear them crackle in the crisp night.  I took in the squares of light shining from the windows of the house, the string of Christmas lights twinkling from the kitchen window where mom had secured them.  The popcorn snack and warmth of home beckoned me inside. 

Christmas time is a time of nostalgic remembering. Vivid childhood memories of family around a sparkling tree, wrapping paper strewn over the living room floor, the smell of Christmas oranges, Sunday school pageants where Mary forgets her lines and the sheep are fighting over the best spot by the baby Jesus. But, if all the tinsel and presents, Christmas lights and pageants were removed, the celebration would go on for Christmas points us to the story of how God chose to bring the greatest hope ever known to a dirty, messy, broken and hopeless world…in the form of a baby.

“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus…so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1: 30,31,35b (NIV)

Enter a young girl named Mary. She has just received the most startling news of her life, as told to her by a most startling messenger, an angel!  She was probably like many other 14-year-old girls in her day, dreaming of a future with handsome Joesph, when suddenly her plans take a drastic turn. The angel tells her she would have a baby, and this would be no ordinary child. He even has the baby’s name picked out for her; … ” and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 NCV) 

She must have had so many questions running through her head!  She wasn’t married yet, and Joesph wasn’t going to be the father! What would people say?  What would Joseph say? The scandal could ruin her and her family! 

As we see the story, there are many reasons why she might have explained to the angel how this was a horrible idea! Somebody more suited could surely be found for an undertaking such as this! Why choose me? 

But we don’t hear Mary asking the angel what the implications will be for her life; we don’t hear her asking how this will impact her future. Little does she know the pain she will endure. We don’t hear her making excuses… and I don’t believe we can put her on a holy pedestal.  She was just an ordinary girl, filled with God’s grace. An ordinary girl with a heart open to hearing God’s voice and trusting him with her future. Through her obedience, the Living Hope of the world was born, a Hope that still impacts lives today. 

How is God calling me to reflect his hope to others this Christmas? What small act of kindness can I do for someone that will give them a glimpse of that hope?

When I take my eyes off my struggles long enough to encourage others around me, the remarkable effect is the restoration of my own joy! Let’s give the hope we long to have! The God of all hope desires to pour out his hope into all of our hearts. Search out who this child of hope named Jesus is. He came so long ago to bring hope to a hurting world, and the hope and light he brought then are still the same today.