Christmas Is For Moms

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." – John 16:21

People always say that Christmas is for children. In many ways I agree with that. The sparkling lights, shiny decorations and stylish wrapping capture a child’s imagination in a way that few other experiences can. However, when you strip way the glitter and get down to the nitty gritty, I think Christmas is for moms.

A mom can understand the need to protect and support her husband, even if it means riding for days on a donkey while nine months pregnant. A mom can make any place feel like home for her child, even in a stable. Some translations of the Bible say that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths. Did Mary pack in anticipation of having her baby while on the road? The term swaddling implies that the cloths were meant for a baby.

Beyond the physical scene painted in Bethlehem, a mother can relate, in many ways, to Mary’s emotions as well. Every mother knows her child will be magnificent, even if an angel doesn’t come to tell her so. We all feel compelled to provide the best we can for our children, whether it comes in the form of accepting gifts from three strangers or working crazy hours to make sure there is food in his tummy and a onesie on his back. We go to great lengths to protect our little treasures, whether that means fleeing from an unstable king, or a pushy mother-in-law.

In the eyes of our babies, we see the future of the world. And while we don’t enter into motherhood knowing what role our child will play the way Mary did, the anticipation of what lies ahead keeps us hopeful from one Christmas to the next.

I pray that you, and your entire family, have a very blessed Christmas.

In honor of the holiday, I will take a break from blogging until the new year. I look forward to talking with you in 2009!