Happy Birthday to YOU

For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon His
shoulder: and His name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The Mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Birthdays have always been remarkable times in people's lives. Considering my age, I've probably blown out enough birthday candles in my life to light up a town square. Birthdays begin with one's day of birth. When a baby is born, the parents can't wait to call family and friends to notify them of the birth of their baby. From that point on, that baby's date of birth will be of vital importance. Not only will it be celebrated yearly in different ways, depending on the age of the child through adulthood, but it is a date that will be required to be notated on every official document life presents beginning with the birth certificate.

As special as a baby is born into our families, as happy as we might be for the new parents, that baby's arrival isn't going to touch in a personal way, every person living now or in the future. Each baby will grow to hopefully count for Christ in so many ways, ways that can have a ripple effect into the lives of others. But as special as our babies may be, they are limited in their sphere of influence.

I have such an appreciation for Mary, Jesus' mother, in so many ways. We who have given birth can hardly imagine (beyond her unique call to motherhood), what it must have been like giving birth to a baby in a contaminated, smelly, uncomfortable stable. It was nothing like what we see in the nativity sets we put out for Christmas. It was the worst of circumstances for giving birth. Joseph was the only one there that we know about. By the way, despite pictures, the only way we know how Mary got to Bethlehem was on foot...no donkey. Nine months pregnant and walking several miles to their destination is just too much to comprehend..

We don't know of any medical help Mary had, but Scripture tells us that “she brought forth her first born Son and laid Him in a manger.” There would be hay in most mangers as that's where animals would feed themselves while in the stable. She had nothing else even resembling a crib for her baby. I remember when we were expecting our Jennie coming into our lives. We couldn't wait to go purchase a new baby bed and mattress. Little by little, we added other things to what would be her nursery. Everything clean and polished with much thought to décor. I just cannot relate to Mary's circumstances at that time, nor am I meant to be. This event, this Baby, would be the most remarkable circumstance ever presented to human-kind.

Who needed baby announcements to be mailed or sent by e-mail. There were angels to announce His birth. The first visitors weren't what we would have wanted visiting us in a hospital...dirty, smelly men from the fields. Remember wanting people to wash their hands before holding your baby? These were shepherds, the lowest occupation in society of that time. But later, the opposite of them came to the home of Joseph and Mary with gifts hard to believe. That baby had come to the lowliest of men...shepherds... and to the magi, the richest and wisest of men. All meaning of just that would unfold as did the years of Jesus' growth into manhood, seeing the varied people He would minister to and love.

I don't know what parents of that day did to celebrate a child's birthday, but I know what we do. We have presents for the birthday kid along with cake, ice cream and all sorts of festivities. What's more, we celebrate those birthdays even to the death of the elderly. In a lifetime, there have been a lot of celebrating of birthdays. Even as we age, birthdays may not seem as important, but we still, if nothing else, track those days prior to the birthday.

How do we celebrate Jesus' birthday? The best gift we can ever give Him is the gift of our own selves. I don't know of a gift that would please Him more than our giving ourselves to Him anew, ready to love and serve Him with all our being. No fancy wrapping paper, boxes or bows...poor, rich or just in between folks makes no difference. We are viewed by Him through the same lens...sinners in need of a Savior.

As awkward as it may seem, in a private moment, how about singing the little chorus we have probably sung hundreds of times in our lives:

"Happy birthday to You,
Happy birthday to You,
Happy birthday dear Jesus
Happy birthday to You"
.

Dear Father...what a wonderful gift You gave us in Your Son. Jesus wasn't just a gift from You, but a gift to us. However, a gift has to be accepted , the gift of salvation. Thank You for that precious gift as well as for every moment of Your presence in our lives. We are such a blessed people having Jesus as Savior, You as our Heavenly Father and Your indwelling Spirit constantly with and in us. I don't mean this to sound trite or irreverent but, “Merry Christmas.” In Jesus' name....Amen