The Mother Of Jesus

Alright, this is my last Christmas Blog! As I watched a show on T.V. The other night, I started thinking about Jesus and His earthly family. I've thought about them before, but I really thought about them as more than a part of the historical birth of Christ. They were a unique family. There were the obvious things, like Mary being a virgin. Joseph was basically an adopted father. You add to that, the young age of Mary, and a long walk to another town, right at the time the baby is due.

I am not sure how we Moms and Dads would handle those conditions today. As for Joseph, he is engaged to a young girl, and then finds out she is having a baby. It isn't his....it is God's son. Wow! Talk about a shocker. Then he has to take responsibility to go to Bethlehem to pay taxes with a wife who is ready to have her baby any day. Talk about stress. 

Mary of course is the one I always wonder about. It is believed she may have been as young as 13 or 14. She has a new husband and a miraculous baby on the way. Then she has to travel by foot and donkey about 70 miles to pay taxes. She will be in a strange place, with no Mother close by, and no one to help her if her baby came while they were on this trip. On top of that, there is no nice room for them to stay in. Now she finds herself bedded down in a stable filled with straw and animals.

The Bible does not tell us how long labor was, but she is having Him in less than ideal circumstances. Once Jesus was born, she was immediately and totally in love with her son! The Bible tells us she swaddled Him. That is the ultimate care of a mother, to wrap her child tightly in cloth to mimic the safety and comfort of the womb. It doesn't say, but I can imagine she is like any mother, she made sure He was perfect, with ten toes, and ten fingers.

I can picture her quietly talking to Him, cuddling Him close, and praying over Him. The weight of responsibility on her and Joseph for this little one was huge! They also knew God would lead them, help them, and protect them. 

Then as she was settling in to rest, more amazing things began to happen. A bright star settles over the stable. Angels are singing and declaring the birth. Strangers who were shepherding their sheep start making their way to see this miracle of God's son. It all had to be overwhelming, and yet we know, God was totally in charge! Mary kept these memories in her heart.

I believe that Mary and Joseph were no different than any new parent. The Bible doesn't tell us if Jesus cried, or got sick, or got a fever. If He did, I know His parents would have prayed for Him, and watched over Him. They were led to a place where they had to totally rely on God. Joseph was told in a dream his new son was in danger of being sought out and killed. Yet He and Mary were totally obedient to God, and fully relyed on Him. When God said go to Egypt, they went, taking them even further from home, and for a longer time.

We Moms and Dads today face many dangers for our children and grandchildren. Is our first line of defense prayers?  Just as Jesus was loaned to Mary and Joseph for His time on earth, our children are loaned to us until God calls them home to Him. We have better surroundings and circumstances, maybe than Mary and Joseph, but we should be as obedient and trusting as they were. 

As you go through this Christmas season this year, try to focus only on the Christ child and His family.

Think about all they did outside their comfort zone, just to follow God's plan. Am I that in tune with God?  Am I willing to give it all to  Him, and no matter what He asks,say, "Yes, Lord!"  After all, that little baby with skin on, did far more for me, than I could ever imagine. More and more I will watch Mary and Joseph's example of saying YES!

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: An Empty Place

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: An Empty Place: Holidays are a time of joy, happiness, family. Whether it is Thanksgiving or Christmas, an anniversary, or birthday, they are special times ...

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: More Molly Christmas!

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: More Molly Christmas!: It's me Molly, again! I am really liking this Christmas stuff. I know we had it last year too, but I was still a baby, and I don't r...

More Molly Christmas!

It's me Molly, again! I am really liking this Christmas stuff. I know we had it last year too, but I was still a baby, and I don't remember it much! Today we sat in our family  room

 with a fire in the fireplace! I like watching it, but when it pops, it scares me a little. Mom decorated here too, and I like it cause Mom says it is for Jesus Birthday.

I know that doesn't mean much to us furs, but humans love Him a lot. I asked Mom why He is so special, and she said, because He is God's son. He came here to where we live....earth, and was born as a human baby. That seems funny to me. Humans do bad things, God calls sin, so Jesus said, "I'll go and be a human and  I will live as a human."  

I guess then when He grew big, He died on a cross, and took all that bad stuff with Him, so humans could be forgiven. If they take that free gift, and love Jesus, they get to live with Him forever! I don't know what forever is. Any way that makes Christmas special! So today, I snuggled with Daddy all day, does that count as forever?

The bestest thing ever was actually yesterday! I told you before I needed a new harness. Well yesterday, Daddy bought me a new one. It is beautious! I love it! It is not so tight, and it is PINK! Daddy didn't think I was a pink kind of girl...but I am! It has reflectors on it too, so at night in the light, people can see me coming! Mom says I walk very proud when it is on, because I know I'm looking good!

Then the night before that, my best friend from next door came over to play. His Mom had an emergency, and my Mom went over to his house to

let him out and give him treats. Well, she said he looked so sad, she brought him to my house so we could play for awhile! It was fun!

Yup, this Christmas time is so fun. I'm going to be a reallly good girl, so I can get maybe a new toy, and my favorite treats too!  Playing with Max, wearing my new harness, and eating treats is pretty awesome. I sure am glad Jesus was born. Mom says He loves we fur babies too! She showed me a picture of Him, and He was holding a baby sheep. Pretty cool, huh? Well that's all for now. Maybe I can talk to you again next week. Happy Christmas!

It's O.K. to Say It!

Merry Christmas! Yes it is O.K. To say the words. Those who do not believe in Jesus or His word, seem to think the words are offensive. The simple truth is, He was and is today, real, He was born in human form to save humanity from separation from God, The Father because of sin, and Christmas would not exist without Him.

Now, if you choose not to believe that, that is between you and God, but why are you offended, because I believe. I may not agree with other beliefs, but I am not going to tell people they can't believe. I have always loved Christmas. The first Christmas I remember I was maybe four. We lived in Colorado, at the foot of a mountain range. My Daddy had a red and black plaid, wool jacket, and I was bundled up in a blue snow suit. Yes I was one of those kids, so bundle up, I could hardly walk. We were dressed to go up into the mountains, where my Daddy cut our Christmas tree. I doubt if they still allow people to do that today, but in the late 40s, it was accepted.

I especially liked the lights. At that time in my life, I loved snow. We always went to Church at 11:00 on Christmas Eve. I remember that same Christmas, when we walked out of Church it had been snowing. The street lights made the fresh snow glisten, and children still lifted their faces skyward, stuck out their tongue to catch snowflakes! It was always so incredibly quiet after a snow. The noises of the world were silenced for the moment.

In the first 30 some years, that's what Christmas was to me. Trees, lights, snow, and presents! I was a spoiled child, and I always got what I wanted for Christmas! There was baking cookies, making candy, trimming the house, presents, wrapping presents, Christmas music, and sending Christmas cards. That was Christmas to me. Our Chirch had a Christmas program, a manger scene, and Christmas Carols, yet the true meaning of Christmas eluded me.

When I gave my life to Jesus 30 some years ago, that changed. I have a personal relationship with that baby born so long ago. He truly is the reason for the season! He chose to be born in human form, so He could save my sinful life! Because of Him, I have been forgiven of my sin, and have a home in Heaven when I leave here. Suddenly Christmas has a whole better meaning. The trappings are still nice and enjoyable, but with my focus on Jesus, I have pared down the decorations, the busyness, and the money spent. As my husband John said so well, " Why do we give others presents, when it isn't their birthday?" He's right! It's Jesus Birthday! He deserves all my focus, my gifts of obedience, doing for others, and my time and talents. I have chosen to give me to Him to use as He chooses! I choose to say Merry Christmas.....And Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: A Very Molly Christmas!

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: A Very Molly Christmas!: Wow! I don't know about your house, but ours is very different now. Mom says it's something called Christmas. Do you know what that ...

A Very Molly Christmas!

Wow! I don't know about your house, but ours is very different now. Mom says it's something called Christmas. Do you know what that is? Well I didn't either, but Mom explained it to me. First Mom cleaned really good (well, she always does, but this was extra). Then she put a lot of our stuff away in the storage closet, and now my rooms don't look like my rooms. 

Next she got out all this other stuff. There are

lighted Angels, red, gold, and white flowers, and lots of candles! Then she put up a tree with lights that change color. She even put a tree outside and a wreath, and a big pot with pine cones, and green things, and gold balls. A girl could (and did) get in trouble for trying to play with the balls, and the pine cones. I bring pine cones in all the time, and Mom lets me chew on them. The balls looked a lot like my tennis balls, so who knew? Mom just held up one finger, and I knew they weren't my toys.

The main decoration is a funny building, with lots of animals, and people wearing funny clothes. Mom said it was a manger scene. I'm not exactly sure what that is, but she said it was like a barn. It was a very long time ago, and it is where a baby was born. Mom said the baby was God's son, born in human form, so He could grow up on earth, get to know humans as a human, and then He died. I get sort of confused, but Mom said, humans are sinners. They do bad things God doesn't like. God can't look at sin, cause He is perfect.

God said, "I'll send my son, Jesus to earth, and He will be like the humans. He will die on a cross, and come back to life, and go back to Heaven." If people believe that, ask for forgiveness for the bad stuff, and turn their life over to Jesus, they go to Heaven when they die. I think it's kinda like our animal Rainbow Bridge. Those that accept what Jesus did, and follow Him, get to live with Him forever. Anyway, this manger scene is pretty cool. I like the sheep, and cows, and donkeys. There is even a doggy.   

My Mom says this time of year, people are nicer to each other. They sing special songs, and read about baby Jesus' birth in the Bible. People buy gifts for each other too. Does that include puppies? I sure hope so. I need a new toy, and a new harness, and more treats. Lots more treats! Please! I think I like this holiday called Christmas! We sit by the tree, and snuggle in our blankies. Humans say Merry Christmas to each other, so I will say to all my doggy friends and their Moms and Dads.....Merry Christmas, from Molly!