a child is born...

A few days ago a very dear friend of mine had her baby. Yesterday Michael and I visited her in the hospital to meet the baby. Isn't it awesome going to the hospital to see a brand-new, less than 24 hours old baby? We were anticipating it so much and we couldn't wait to get there... we had been waiting to meet this baby girl for months! It was just a really exciting day to get to share some of the sweet joy only a newborn can bring with some of our closest friends. We congratulated them, held the baby, and then went home and talked about what it was like when we ourselves were in the hospital with our new baby not even a year and a half ago.

And then today at church I got to thinking... Jesus was once a baby. People traveled from all over to see him. Can you imagine their excitement?! It wasn't just a baby of a close friend - they were going to see the Savior of the world. The one that had been predicted to come... that everyone had been waiting for. The One that would someday die to save them. There was even a star put in the sky to lead people to him. Isn't that so awesome? I wish I was more eloquent with words and could put into words the imagery in my head because it is just... beautiful. It's beautiful. And then to think of Mary... birthing this baby. Being told he is the Prince of Peace. People knowing that after just seeing a glimpse of him! I mean, any new mother is beaming with pride as people "ooh" and "ahh" over her brand new baby... but to just try to imagine the emotions she must have been feeling. Knowing that she birthed the son of God. It's incredible. It's a miracle.

And then to know that someday this baby would bring her so much heartache as she watched him suffer for our sins. As he saved each of us. Because he loves us more than we could ever know.

It was too much to think about during church... I was a balling mess in the back row. Just the thought of watching someone bring pain to Caedmon was too much to bear. But I feel like it's something that clicked that I honestly wouldn't have given much thought if I wasn't a mother myself. There's just no emotion to compare it to until you experience it personally.

So, in all the hustle and bustle of this season with the shopping and the presents and the cookies and the Santa and the ornaments and everything else... may we never forget the real reason we're celebrating - that Jesus came down to this Earth. Ah, it's just so awesome! I'm praying we're able to teach Caedmon the real reason we celebrate... and also that we don't forget it ourselves.

I hope all of you have a very, very blessed Christmas!