Out Of The Minds Of Babes
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (vv. 10--11)
We can learn so much from children. A few years back, my son, Spencer, turned four about a month before Christmas. He decided one day to rearrange the figures from our nativity. When my wife, Hadley, set them up, they were carefully placed in a row - organized, balanced, and placed to perfection. Spencer, on the other hand, decided they should be huddled in a tight circle around the Baby Jesus. Hadley discovered the change and pointed it out to me. I responded, "You know, that's probably more accurate. They would squeeze in close to see the Christ child." Ah, the wisdom of a child's view.
Spencer knew that when you're excited about something, you jump right in. The scripture says the Wise Men "were overwhelmed with joy" and that "they knelt down and paid him homage." If they were filled with joyous worship, they wouldn't line up like they were taking a family picture. They would get as close a possible to the Christ child.
Children experience the joy of Christmas like no others. It's instinctive. On December 25, adults can manage to act like children with awe and wonder. But what about Epiphany? After Christmas Day has passed and all the presents have been opened, are the thrills and wonder gone? What excites us other than the after--Christmas sales and college football bowl games? Is the only surprise we expect attached to the overwhelming shock of the looming credit card bill?
But what if you viewed Christmas through new eyes - the eyes of a child. Ever notice that children are still excited way after Christmas? Why is that? Because they are still overjoyed with new toys, visiting relatives, and Christmas treats. Like the Wise Men, we have been given a wonderful gift. That gift is worthy of our praise not just on December 25, and not just Epiphany, but all year long.
Just because we are used to seeing the nativity scene in a straight line, it doesn't mean it has to be that way. We can see through the eyes of a child. And just because the norm is to pack Christmas up and store it in the attic, doesn't mean we can't return to our lives as renewed people who have been inspired by a precious gift. We can allow the gift of the birth of a savior to change us for more than a day. Spencer's nativity arrangement reminded me of that. We enter the kingdom as little children filled with awe, joy, and wonder - overwhelmed that Someone cared enough to give us a priceless gift. Christmas is not just an ordinary holiday that passes on one day. It is an opportunity for an entire lifetime of joyous transformation.
We can learn so much from children. A few years back, my son, Spencer, turned four about a month before Christmas. He decided one day to rearrange the figures from our nativity. When my wife, Hadley, set them up, they were carefully placed in a row - organized, balanced, and placed to perfection. Spencer, on the other hand, decided they should be huddled in a tight circle around the Baby Jesus. Hadley discovered the change and pointed it out to me. I responded, "You know, that's probably more accurate. They would squeeze in close to see the Christ child." Ah, the wisdom of a child's view.
Spencer knew that when you're excited about something, you jump right in. The scripture says the Wise Men "were overwhelmed with joy" and that "they knelt down and paid him homage." If they were filled with joyous worship, they wouldn't line up like they were taking a family picture. They would get as close a possible to the Christ child.
Children experience the joy of Christmas like no others. It's instinctive. On December 25, adults can manage to act like children with awe and wonder. But what about Epiphany? After Christmas Day has passed and all the presents have been opened, are the thrills and wonder gone? What excites us other than the after--Christmas sales and college football bowl games? Is the only surprise we expect attached to the overwhelming shock of the looming credit card bill?
But what if you viewed Christmas through new eyes - the eyes of a child. Ever notice that children are still excited way after Christmas? Why is that? Because they are still overjoyed with new toys, visiting relatives, and Christmas treats. Like the Wise Men, we have been given a wonderful gift. That gift is worthy of our praise not just on December 25, and not just Epiphany, but all year long.
Just because we are used to seeing the nativity scene in a straight line, it doesn't mean it has to be that way. We can see through the eyes of a child. And just because the norm is to pack Christmas up and store it in the attic, doesn't mean we can't return to our lives as renewed people who have been inspired by a precious gift. We can allow the gift of the birth of a savior to change us for more than a day. Spencer's nativity arrangement reminded me of that. We enter the kingdom as little children filled with awe, joy, and wonder - overwhelmed that Someone cared enough to give us a priceless gift. Christmas is not just an ordinary holiday that passes on one day. It is an opportunity for an entire lifetime of joyous transformation.
