Category: 366 days of novice motherhood

Wonder

Awe

Reflection

Silence

As the day turned to night, the angels took a deep breath and waited in expectation for the moment they had waited thousands of years to arrive.

Just like children are counting down in expectation for the moment when Santa knocks on their door.

The Angels waited in silence, holding their breath for the moment to happen.

Expectation

Anticipation

Baited breath.

As I reflect on Christmas I am often more excited at the tradition of Christmas itself rather than the reason we are celebrating.

The carols blaring, polar express on tv, so I turn it all off and wait.

I listen.

I hear the silence.

I reflect.

I pause,

I respect.

Honor

Worth

Brilliance

A baby

The world has changed eternally.

Silent night.

The night awaits.

It is nearly here, the day of his celebration.

Find time in silence over the next three days, to reflect, to anticipate, to listen.

Holy night

All is calm

All is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Golden Silence.

A

All day my social media feeds have been full of crazy conversations about the end of the world.

Some friends making fun, others questioning tentatively, most a little cynical.

The same happened in the time of Jesus’ birth. Announcement after announcement, arrival after arrival, people predicted and failed in their prediction of the Savior.

People became so cynical because people claimed year after year to be the King of all kings.

Just like the end of the world prophecies for 2012, people have been predicting the end of the world, since the very beginning.

Yet scripture says of the end of the world.

Mark 13:32 ‘no one knows the day or the hour, not even the Angels in heaven.’

Just like the end of the world prophets, there were many cynics who claimed his birth was no more than a shameful baby being born in a stable with no place to lay his head.

An illegitimate child.

A homeless child.

Certainly couldn’t be the savior of the world.

I love that.

I love that Jesus broke every convention and played right into the cynics hands.

So glad to be writing tonight not burning in flames.

However the end of the world as we know it, will come some day.

Seriously we cannot keep going the way we are.

Cynic or not our world needs help.

And it starts with you and me.

Cynic or not our world needs a Savior this Christmas.

A humble one born into poverty.

Cynic or not you need to encounter him today.

A simple encounter with Christ.

That’s my prayer for you.

A

As I reflect on my year of novice motherhood I am starting to see a distinct change in my friendships.

It doesn’t matter what I do, sometimes some friendships just don’t last the change of season.

There comes a point when you can only extend an invite so many times, text, call, try to include them.

I have realized there are some people who we invited to our wedding, who I thought were great friends, who haven’t really seen my Max at all.

Then there are others who have become so special in this season and have made huge efforts to be a part of our everyday world.

The more I reflect though, the more I realize that family is an important part of my support structure, but not everyone has a great synergy with their family.

Monday night at family night, I lost it, for no particular reason, I’d just had enough. Then I realized my reaction was not helping anyone and an apology and quick getting over my offense was imperative.

Later in Jesus’ life scripture tells a few stories of how he could not help his family from their unbelief.

Often it’s those that are closest to us, who have known us our whole lives who don’t have the capacity to traverse our change of seasons.

The reoccurring problem I see in friendship conflict and family conflict is selfishness.

People who want everything on their terms and their way. People who are not able to see things from another’s perspective.

I’m not hurt that a lot of my friendships have changed in this season, just surprised.

I am sure as Mary gave birth to an illegitimate child, out of marriage her friendships changed.

The only thing that didn’t was the new family she was forging and in the future scripture says that Jesus had brothers and sisters.

I don’t have any real wisdom on this perspective today because in someways I am a little confused by it.

Family, it’s complex, but coming out of my week it’s imperative that we don’t fall fowl to old habits or reactions because we think more about our own offenses and hurts than others.

Friends, it’s interesting, no friendship will stay the same throughout the years. There are seasons where significant friendships change and wane. I believe the best friendships though, are those ones that both parties make an effort to encourage and support one another through different seasons.

I am starting to reflect now on my novice year of motherhood and make decisions about next year.

That’s why my post is a little transparent.

A toast to those who have supported and come alongside us in such an unusual season.

A toast to my family who are amazingly diverse and tenacious.

Merry nearly Christmas dear friend.

Family is full of flaws but truly are the making of Christmas memories.

A

It was likely that the bed the infant Christ first laid in was an open wooden trough that animals normally fed from.

I know the first night I brought my son home from the hospital I cleaned every part of my apartment and was meticulous in my necessity for the best of the best.

Most people think the manger was found in a stable outside in the yard but culturally the animals were kept inside the house for warmth and ease of gaining their produce.

So Jesus wasn’t born in a back shed as such, more like a basement.

However his bed was still a feeding trough come wooden box.

Humbled.

I think we spend so much time trying to protect our children that we forget a instinct for survival was innately built in them.

I know it’s imperative that we provide a safe place for them to dwell but also your expectations for what is best for them will not often be met.

I sometimes stress a little over the size of our apartment and Max’s lack of backyard to roam free in, then I remember the manger.

I sometimes think that my floor is so dirty from a 9 month old trying to learn to feed himself, hoping he doesn’t eat something unsavory. I often question my domestic skills, then I remember the manger.

It’s not that I don’t want the best for my son, but sometimes the best is unrealistic and what he remembers will be the love and atmosphere of the house not its content.

Jesus was born into an unwed couples lives, in the middle of a chaotic census, in an animal laden stable and placed in a manger And he grew up to change the world forever.

My little mans cot, in his little room across the road from the ocean, placed in a family full of love is extravagant.

Humbled.

A Manger for a king.

Simple

Yet

Sufficient

A

I received a Christmas card from England yesterday and it made me think fondly of its sender.

How many cards have you been given this year?

A few special ones like me or lots and lots of them from many acquaintances?

No matter how many cards we receive, many of them pray for peace this Christmas.

Peace in our hearts, peace in our homes and peace with God.

The sad truth is, we won’t receive peace across the globe this Christmas.

I have sat all day today reflecting on the funerals of the beautiful six year olds and their teachers who have passed away in the Connecticut tragedy.

Peace.

Is it truly possible this Christmas?

The origins of the concept of peace at christmas comes from the Angels who spoke to the shepherds in the fields.

‘Glory to God in the highest and peace to those on earth.’

The true concept of peace at Christmas is actually founded in us finding peace with God.

That we would find the child Jesus and reflect upon his true nature and be at peace with Him.

The Angels brought good news to the shepherds encouraging them to make peace with the Saviour.

We are encouraged to do the same this Christmas.

Where are you at with God this year?

Are you at peace with Him?

Are you confused by Him?

Have you ignored Him?

Peace on earth this Christmas, can only be achieved if we make peace with God first and foremost.

A