I have recently been looking through family photos as I was putting together a slide show of photos for my aunt’s funeral, and I came across this photo of her great great niece cuddling her newborn baby brother. (For those who might have read any of my previous TFTDs, I refer to 16-10-23– the photo then is of the same baby boy being cradled by this same great great aunt).
On Christmas day we think about the inexplicable wonder that surrounds the very special new birth of the baby who is named Immanuel – God with us.
I witnessed many births in my career as a doctor, and every time I was amazed at the miracle of new life. Not all babies come out pink and ready washed. Some have the marks of the instruments that have been needed to bring them safely into this world, others are a worrying blue colour until they either take their first gasp of air or have oxygen supplied to them by a doctor or nurse (whose heart is beating even faster than theirs!)
However, all babies are beautiful whatever they look like. All are filled with great potential from the moment of birth – not all will become scientific geniuses, or literary giants, but all have potential.
When you gaze into the eyes of a newborn baby you cannot fail to be filled with amazement and wonder.
Sadly, it is so often at the hands of humankind that this potential can never be achieved – babies starving because of lack of food, suffering because of lack of shelter, fleeing because of bombs and guns.
At this time, we remember Jesus born in a stable amongst the animals and having to flee to another country with his parents because of threats to his life. Mary and Joseph new what potential lay in their son – the potential to live and then die so that we, you and me, could be saved.
At this Christmas time may you experience the joy of new birth in Jesus, the peace and hope that only he can bring, and the love for one another and for God.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!