Ten Days to Go - How is your heart?

Well, here we are...10 days until Christmas. I've been swamped with no time to focus on writing here (I write a lot for paid work and that gets my time first!).  How about you?  Are you ready?  Are you stressed?  Do you remember the reason for the celebration?  How is your heart?

I'm as guilty as anyone about getting caught up in the rush to the "finish line" and forgetting to keep things in perspective...forgetting about the importance of the anticipation of Jesus.  That's what these 10 days should be about.  In ten days, we celebrate the fact that heaven opened up and sent THE Savior of the world.  God looked down on all that he'd created and realized we needed help.  In his incredible mercy, he took pity on the human race and delivered unto us a child.  But not just any child.  His child.

As a new mother, I cannot imagine sending my child out into this cruel world...to die a horrible death...to suffer at the hands of others...to save selfish, ungrateful, unkind...me.  Yet, I am immeasurably humbled at the thought that while I was still an enemy of God, he chose to redeem me with his own son and he chose a young, inexperienced, unassuming, but sold-out girl to do it.  Of course, Mary did not know at first what would be asked of her child, how her mommy heart would be broken.  What a gift that the Lord did not reveal to her the fullness of His plan, because she might not have been able to handle it.  I don't think I could have.  Thank you, Lord for loving me.  For demonstrating your love and compassion by walking alongside those who are willing to walk in your way - even when it doesn't make sense to them, You steady their path and give light to the next step leading them to Your will.  Thank you most of all for Jesus.

Luke 1: 30-38
30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.