It’s that time of year again when stockings are hung over the fireplace, Christmas trees are aglow through the windows, garland is intertwined on the staircase railing, and Hallmark movies fill us with hope and love. It’s truly a magical time. But for me, holiday traditions and customs looked a bit different.
My family lived in the country when I was a child, then moved to a small town by the time I was in middle school. At both locations, we had no Christmas tree, no garland, and no stockings over the fireplace. After all, you couldn’t hang stockings on a potbelly wood-burning stove or a central heating system. Our money didn’t allow for such decorating luxuries. My mother prioritized essentials like food for the Christmas feast, fruit bags that masqueraded as gifts, and at least one toy. It didn’t seem like much, but it was holiday goodness to me.
As a matter of fact, I can say that “God is good all the time and all the time God is good.” God’s character and nature never changes. He is good today, tomorrow, and yesterday. During times of plenty, He’s good. During poor times, He’s still good. No circumstance will ever change the goodness of God. When my family faced hard times, holding onto God’s unchanging character was the one thing that gave us hope.
Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. I am not claiming that living in poverty is good. My family learned the hard way that believing in a good God doesn’t mean that difficulties will be eradicated or that they would feel good. Sometimes, a good God gives you the strength to endure and persevere through horrific circumstances. Goodness, in its simplest yet most powerful form, exists in relationship with an omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (ever-present), and an eternal God having no beginning or end when you go through a trial.
God will always fulfill His good will and purpose according to His kindness towards us. We see this goodness at work during the birth of Jesus Christ. His goodness gave us the Son of God, the Word, and it made salvation available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The story in Luke 2 tells of an earthly couple, Joseph and Mary, who went to Bethlehem for a census. They were ordinary, low-income people with plans to marry. Although they lived ordinary lives, their parenting assignment would become an extraordinary appointment. They had been commissioned to raise the Son of God.
During their trip, Mary who had been found pregnant by the Spirit of God, gave birth to baby Jesus, the Savior of the world. Because they couldn’t find a room in Bethlehem, Jesus was born in a place like a stable where you keep animals. Mary wrapped this bundle of goodness in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.
Amazingly, not even Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus, experienced a problem-free life. Doors were closed in their faces each time they knocked on a door for help. We have no room for you, they said. And the Savior of the world slept in a manger among animals. Their life was far from easy. So, if God didn’t take away Mary and Joseph’s problems, it’s a strong possibility that He may not always take away ours.
I don’t want you to believe that God won’t or can’t deliver you from your problems when you call on Him, because He can. I just wanted to emphasize that when He doesn’t come right away, it doesn’t diminish His power. It doesn’t diminish His goodness. We simply need to trust God through the problems. Joseph and Mary did. And because they trusted God something wonderful happened. A child was given to us that would be responsible for leading the nations.
His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Christ, The Messiah, The Lamb of God, our Redeemer.
That’s the Christmas news! And the celebration didn’t require any fancy decorations hung around the manger. It didn’t require Mary to go in debt buying gifts and clothes. She just had Jesus. And you can too. God loves you. This is your Christmas gift. The Messiah, the Lord. He left His home to dwell with you. What a good reason to praise the Lord! What a good reason to give thanks!
Brenette Wilder, formerly of Altheimer, Ark., is a blogger at wordstoinspire105953116.wordpress.com and author of Netted Together.