Holiday Devotions for the Distracted HeartSample

Distraction of Delivery

“Daddy, Daddy, we're going to run out of gas!” cried the little girl as her father tried to navigate the icy Michigan roads. A December snowstorm made the trip to the hospital to deliver a fourth child treacherous and tensions were high. The contractions were a minute apart when they pulled up to the hospital. After rushing inside, the mother was immediately taken to the delivery room. 

The father had just finished the paperwork at the front desk when the nurse appeared with the news that his wife had given birth to a healthy 9 pound 15 oz. baby girl! Me!  

Twenty-eight years later, my husband chanted “Pant, pant, blow” as he carefully negotiated the icy roads of another cold December night. My labor had begun two hours earlier and the doctor assured us that since it was our first child, we had plenty of time. He was wrong. Twenty minutes after arriving at the hospital, I was holding my sweet baby girl. The Lord had once again protected my family and brought a new life safely into the world.

Fast forward 29 years to another December birth, and my daughter was scheduled to deliver twins. We celebrated with baby showers, posted prenatal pictures, bought furniture, and helped decorate the nursery. Both sides of the family were involved and eager to welcome these two precious babes into the world. 

While anticipating another December birth in the family, I began to reflect on all the planning and preparations involved in having a baby in the 21st century. There are so many decisions to make. Babies can be born in hospitals, in homes, beds, or bathtubs.  Some are delivered by doctors, some by surgeons, while others are brought into the world by midwives and doulas. 

Contrast this to another birth 2,000 years ago we now celebrate in December. There were no baby showers, no nurseries with high-end cribs and homemade quilts. No doctors or doulas to help with the delivery. The trip to the birthplace wasn’t in a car with reclining seats and a heater to keep the mother warm. Instead, she rode on a donkey and when that became uncomfortable, she walked along a cold, dusty road. There was no one in Bethlehem anticipating their arrival or preparing a special room for the birth. In fact, this couple was rejected by society and relegated to a dirty stable. 

Mary’s experience was beyond challenging and yet, she continued to trust the Lord and His plan. 

Joseph trusted God as well and followed through with the marriage despite the seemingly devastating indiscretion. When the angel appeared to him in a dream and confirmed the deity of the Christ child, he trusted that wherever they were led was part of God’s plan. So in a humble setting on a silent night, Jesus was born.  It was also part of God’s plan that the first people to be introduced to the newborn King were not high-priests or rulers, but rather a group of ordinary shepherds. 

When I look at the emphasis we place on traditions, decorations, gifts, and events at Christmas, it’s easy to get distracted from the true meaning of the season. This year, I want to focus on the divine, quiet, simple, unassuming birth of Jesus, God’s Love, delivered to earth. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for being wrapped up in the earthly trappings of this holiday. Just as the deliveries of babies are far different than they were when Christ was born, so are our expectations and preparations for this holiday. May my heart be focused on loving You and loving others in all I say and do. 

Amen

Discussion and Journal Prompt:

What are some different ways to make Jesus a part of each holiday tradition?