BORN IN A BARN, A SERVANT KING
Our Savior
To all my dear Subscribers, I am offering this very short extra piece this week, as I feel nudged by Holy Spirit to share this. This is the short piece I wrote for my small church’s Christmas gathering, in which our homespun fellowship shares everything from Christmas Carols, lighthearted stuffed animals singing Christmas songs, devotional readings and my annual Christmas writing piece. Christmas this year of 2024, my 72nd year, seems particularly intense and filled with some deep missing of my Mom, who went Home 58 years ago and who brought me to Christ. Strange to grieve for a loved one so long gone…but that is my state right now. Holy Spirit always asks me to share what is on my heart. This piece is short. I will have my usual weekly piece up on Friday night. Blessings!
Our beloved Savior Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, traded the beauties of Heaven to be literally born in the bluntness of a barn. I grew up in a rural small town around barns and farms and while I like barns, they are not glamorous!
I still cannot comprehend the love of God for all of us, and that includes the ones you think could not be loved or called: the mess- makers, the violent, the idiotic, the selfish, the hateful, the arrogant, the " self- gods", the profane, the vulgar...and a myriad others.
Shall I go on?? Do not talk to me about my own rowdy rebellious history!
Looking at the world of Christmas 2024, I shake my head in both despair and wonder. "Peace on earth, goodwill to men "... WHERE?
I think back with dear memories of my Mom and I at our beloved Baptist church, the Christmas carols that still stir my heart and bring tears to my eyes in seconds, the trees covered with heavy snow, the velvet Christmas dress, being cared for by parents...no real worries...
And then when I was 13, collapse. Parents marriage fails, Mom dies suddenly overnight in 1966, one brother killed in Vietnam War in 1968. Dad begrudgingly keeping a lost teen daughter. I fled from God as a Prodigal for 35 years...
Stumbling thru life at low speed, I camped out near the bottom rung as if I did not matter and remained invisible.
After those sorrowful years as a Prodigal, tirelessly chased down by the Good Shepherd Who came for someone like me, I finally stumble back onto God's front porch in full collapse..and Papa hears a disturbance out in front. He still opens the door and smiles and says "I've been watching for you, come right in, here's food and coffee...and a huge hug from Me!"
God, I'm a mess! I have achieved nothing except survival, I struggle over money, I'm stuck. Why would you and Your Son want this mess back?? I am not impressive in the least! I don't think I deserve to even leave the barn??? I should just continue to camp out in the straw and look longingly at Your big House...
Stealth Papa laughs, smiles and says " I have things for you, good things! I have given you gifts! Just sit long enough for me to give them to you! My Son came for you as well, He sought you for long years...and He called you back here to Home. No reason whatsoever to camp out in less than enough!"
His hand reaches for me and I take it with trembling...and I also see Christ's shining eyes looking tenderly at me, from nearby.
I am actually Home... Please, do the same!!
WEW Dec. 16, 2024
Bless you, my friend! Yours is my first read of the day.
Thank you for this, Wendy. Well written. Timely. Nice.