Dwell Christmas by David BinionSampl

“Silent night, holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia”

- Silent Night

There are many ways one can celebrate the birth of Jesus--through prayerful thanks, shouted praises, or even through the pursuit of creative tasks. Finding the preferred way of praise for each individual person is all well and good, but ultimately each person must still seek to express their joy to the Lord in every way they are able. However, in the silence of the night, a grander appreciation for His sacrifice can be found when we take time for quiet reflection. The fateful night of Christ’s birth, when even the stars themselves looked on in wonder, imagine a time of silence before the celebration came. Those present understood in that moment that this newborn babe was here for a greater purpose than any of them could have ever imagined.

Like the stars, taking time to be quiet and simply contemplate what that night truly meant is important for us. We can celebrate all we like, but without real understanding of the immensity of what happened on that night so long ago, our praises will never be quite as full, or our prayers as passionate. The next time you lay down to sleep, take time to think about the birth that touched all of Creation, and the weight of His promise fulfilled.