Miracles, Them All

I am waiting for an experience I’ve never known.

I will be a grandmother soon. I have a new object on my table next to my morning spot, a beautiful tiny box engraved with a grandmother and baby.

The giver of this gift understands the gift.

She’s one of many who have told me it is a joy I’ve not yet known.

On this Christmas Eve, I’m thinking about transitions, about changes that are coming with the coming year.

Yesterday and even the day before, I longed for time travel, I longed for Christmas with my children as children, the Christmases like before.

I think I miss the morning most, the mornings they’d wake up to Santa and then the excitement, the surprise, the silly and sweet expressions.

I’m in the 23rd chapter of Luke today, the one that describes the crucifixion.

My eyes are welling up, my nostrils sting with the thought, I believe in the death of Jesus, a man sent from God so that we could be with God. Thank you, God, I believe.

The same Jesus who as a newborn was laid in a wooden feeding trough, being without a safe and warm place to be born.

Mary cradled Him, awestruck over his existence, over how clearly it was God who caused him to be.

It’s not recorded; but, it must’ve been difficult not to intervene, not to come to her son’s defense when they brought him before Pilate and then before Herod who declared he’d done no wrong.

Yet, it was ultimately an angry mob who demanded him be dead.

“but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:21-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And Mary knew this was God’s plan for her son, still I wonder how she handled it all, had she hoped he’d be spared?

Could someone hear the mercy in his voice, the forgiveness offered in his final moments…could that be enough?

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

She heard Jesus comforting the mourners who followed him. She saw her son being laid on a cross and challenged to save himself from death.

She was not surprised when she saw her son think less of himself and more of another.

She heard him tell the criminal about redemption knew he’d be remembered in heaven.

She heard him tell the women his death had a purpose, a purpose even for them. If there is to be weeping, let it be for what is to come for you, what my death will accomplish for you, for your children.

Let your tears be tears of joy, save them for the elation, the blessing of what will be.

“And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:27-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

On Christmas Eve, I’m thinking of the baby, the baby born to save and the babies for me that God made.

I’m pondering last minute little things, tokens that convey my undeniable love. I’m thinking of Mary and the truth we both know, children are a gift from God.

I am certain Jesus knew he was loved, loved and let grow and go.

Children are proof to me of miracles. There’s no way no one could ever convince me that’s not so.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus, the greatest miracle of all.