Day 23: Merry Christmas To You

"Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'  And suddenly there was with the angle a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!'

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them."                 -Luke 2.7-17

I was just thinking about this story tonight, about how the shepherds did a lot of walking on that Christmas night.  They heard good news about Jesus' birth, so they walked through their fields and to the place where He was; and then they walked on afterwards and told everyone they knew.  They went from house to house, 'making known the saying that had been told them'. 

I didn't feel like going for a walk tonight.  I felt like sitting inside watching my new DVD's that I got for Christmas and having another cup of tea.  But, I had no good reason for staying in, so I booted up and coated up and out I went.  The night was lovely - cold, but not too cold (I could breathe without it hurting).  The ice was like diamond crystals sparkling on the road; although a lot more slippery than that!  It was safer walking on the crunchy snow (it rained a little today, so everything was extra crunchy once the sun went down and it iced over).  The sky was clear, and I looked up and around to see bright, steadfastly shining stars.  There was one shining more powerfully than the others, which made me think of that one star the wise men followed.  How incredible was that, their following it for so long - months maybe - and perhaps having studied the stars for years, knowing somehow that it predicted a King's birth?  Beautiful.

So, I wish you all a very merry Christmas (as much as is left of it!) and may you continue the joy by worshiping this same Jesus in a place where His Word is proclaimed in truth.

Walk length: 20 minutes