Last week I spent the morning with my youngest granddaughter, Ellie. She just turned eight months old. She expresses her fun and sweet personality more each time I see her. With the anticipation of celebrating the birth of Jesus, I found myself paying attention to Ellie’s movement, voice, and interaction from a fresh perspective.
Ellie sits on her own now, yet wobbles a bit now and then. She grasps objects and takes them to her mouth to discover their texture and taste. When eating, Ellie holds food tight between her fingers, lifting them to her mouth. She stiffens her body to stretch out her legs, trying to stand and balance. Her coos, cries, and vocalizations communicate a range of emotions from joy to displeasure. She smiles often and offers the most delightful giggle. I marvel about the naivete of Ellie at eight months old and wonder about Jesus as an infant. I ponder Jesus as a baby.
What is it like to be curious about Jesus as a baby? Maybe spend a few moments watching a baby. Pay attention to their mannerisms and movements. Marvel that Emmanuel, “God with us” came as a baby.
I ponder the humility of God, that He willingly chose to become dependent upon others. I imagine Jesus learning to sit up, feeding Himself, experiencing the environment around Himself, and receiving care and attention from others.
As I looked at Ellie’s hands, I pondered that Jesus also had baby fingers that learned to hold toys and objects. And, they would grew into large hands that would bring physical healing and compassionate touch.
As an infant, the tiny feet of Jesus that gained balance to stand and walk would pass steadily upon rough waters thirty years later. The same hands of Jesus that learned to feed Himself, miraculously fed thousands. The same voice the cooed, cried, and squealed as a baby would speak authoritatively and mercifully to storms, death, sorrow, and fear.
Ponder the reality that the Savior of humanity entered the world as a baby. This leads me to amazement and reverence of God. He does understand our human limitations, development, and experience. God became the only perfect human so that He would know humanity, and so that we would know that He empathizes with us. Wow! God chose this because of His great love for His creation. Thank you God.
My refreshed awareness of Jesus humanity as a baby leads my soul into praise and worship. I experience awe of our great and mighty God. In His kindness, He relates to us and meets us in our humanity. Marvel with me about this astonishing reality. Our great and mighty God became a tiny dependent baby to draw us to Himself.
Merry Christmas ❤️
This week – – –
Reflect. Although Jesus was the Son of the Most High, he grew up in the modest home of Mary and Joseph. Mary mothered him, taught him, and guided him as a child. Sit quiet for a moment. Imagine Jesus, your Lord and Savior, as a baby. He knows your joys, struggles, longings, and needs. He lived them so that you might know that you do not live alone. He understands. Jesus lived all of life so that you might take hold of the full life He offers. (See John 10:10 and Philippians 2:5-8)
Request. Thank God for His extravagant love that sent Jesus into the world. Ask God to increase your awe, wonder, and praise of the indescribable gift of Jesus who is your Lord and Savior. Spend some time praising God.
Receive. Rest in the presence of God. Listen to “Mary, Did You Know?” and notice His gentle nudges and whispers of love, joy, and peace. Yield your heart to receive these gifts of grace from our God Most High.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Luke 2:11-12 – For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ”
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas. Louisville, KY, 2010.
John Marc Comer. Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. Colorado Springs, CO. 2024.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Pentatonix. Mary, Did you Know?. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
Francesca Battistelli. Messiah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D14wX0K9XJQ
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
January 10 – Breathe Retreat, Littleton, CO
January 28- February 12 – Australia