I love all the old children's cartoons and so does Nick, but I realized something this last week as I watched some of the new ones. These shows on TV have "Holiday Specials," and they usually pertain to something or someone 'saving Christmas.' Or it's about some little animated animal delivering presents or doing something 'magical.' I also saw a couple of instances where one show was teaching about the origins of Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. They got the information about Hannukah and Kwanzaa correct, in that they are religious holidays, but for Christmas, all that was taught was that it was the time when Santa comes to deliver gifts, and it's about giving to others and decorating the tree.
This made me mad. Why is it offensive to tell children on secular shows about the goodness and true miracle of Christmas? It is something that is more often than not ignored or simply left out. Why is it ok to teach about the menorah, but not the simplicity and filth of our Great God humbling himself to be born into a cattle stall?
As a new mother once again, and now with two children, I can see the wonder and awe of Christ's birth in a whole new light. Mary was not expecting to give birth yet... she had nothing with her to even clothe her new child. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes... rags, and they laid him in a TROUGH!
I am always obsessing about what Henry will wear, and does he have spit-up on his shoulder? Is his diaper dry? Did I make sure to wash his clothes in Dreft? Are his nails trimmed?
Last night we had dinner out, and I took Henry to the restroom to change him. I had everything I needed except baby wipes. I had left them in the car. I had a brief freak-out moment... and then it came to me: Mary did not have these things. What did she wipe her baby's bottom with? The Lord of Lords, the King of Creation, the Almight God, the Prince of Peace didn't have any of these luxuries.
I am humbled to the point of pure shame, where I have realized all that I have, and all that I enjoy, and that my Lord, Jesus Christ, walked this earth in the most humble of bodies, in a time when comfort was not an everyday occurance.
I know I'm rambling, but to get to the point... this Christmas means more to me than ever, and I hope I can express this joy and love to my children so that they truly understand in their hearts the magnitude of this Awesome gift.
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| More beautiful than any earthly gift could ever be: this precious gift from our Father. |
2 comments:
Tears in my eyes reading this!
We went to a Christmas play this weekend, at the end of it while Mary & baby Jesus were on stage they were playing scenes from The Passion of the Christ on the screens to the side of the stage. The scene that was showing was Mary running after Jesus as a toddler to help him when he fell down. She was remembering this as she was watching him struggle with the cross on his back walking to Golgotha. Talk about gut wrenching. Looking at it all through the eyes of a mother.....
Yes, that precious gift of God!!!
p.s. Thought of you yesterday as I was checking Ethan in at the doctor and had to write the date. Happy Birthday, a day late!
Just a beautiful thing, how He gave himself. I know! It is much different looking through the eyes of a mother. Glad you got to see a great Christmas play like that! See you on Christmas Day!!! :)
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