Christmas Night [part five]

Mary looks into the face of  the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. She can’t take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he.

She remembers the words of the angel,”His kingdom will never end.”

She touches the face of the infant-God.  How long was your journey! 

[Mary’s Prayer that first Christmas night]

Heaven’s fairest child. Conceived by  divine grace… Sleep well… Sleep well. Bask in the coolness of this night bright with diamonds,  sleep well, for the heat of anger simmers nearby. Enjoy the silence of the crib, for the noise of confusion rumbles in your future. Savor the safety of my arms, for a day is soon coming when I cannot protect you.

Rest well, tiny hands. for though you belong to a king, you will touch no satin, own no gold. You will grasp no pen, guide no brush. No, your tiny hands are reserved for works more precious:

to touch a lepers open wound, to wipe a widow’s weary tear, to claw the ground of Gethsemane.

Your hands, so tiny, so tender, so white–clutched tonight in an infant’s fist. They aren’t destined to hold a scepter nor wave from a palace balcony. They are reserved instead for a Roman spike that will staple them to a Roman cross.

Sleep deeply, tiny eyes. Sleep while you can.

Lay still, tiny mouth. Lay still mouth from which eternity will speak. Tiny tongue that will soon summon the dead.

And tiny feet cupped in the palm of my hand, rest… For many difficult steps lie ahead for you. Rest,  tiny feet . Rest today so that tomorrow you might walk with power. Rest… For millions will walk in your steps.

And little heart…holy…pumping the  blood of life through the universe: How many times will we break you?  You’ll be pierced by the spear of our rejection. yet in that piercing, …your hands will be freed, your eyes will see justice, your lips will smile,and your feet will carry you home.

And there you’ll rest again– this time in the embrace of your Father.

[Excerpts from the book “God came near’  by Max Lucado]

I hope these stories have touched your heart as they have mine….. that the richness goes deep…bringing His truths ever more real….Merry Christmas to all…Love Connie