For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
last Sunday was a blessed one because a group of us were able to hand deliver gifts to various children in Glendale through Angel Tree Ministry. Angel Tree is a wonderful program of Prison Fellowship that provides Christmas gifts for children of prisoners. We were able to purchase, gift wrap, write messages, and deliver gifts for six children. Their faces lit up with joy and excitement when they received the gifts and when they heard it’s from their parent whom they haven’t seen in awhile. While this act was rewarding, bonding, and even fun for us as a group, we still remembered that these kids’ moms or dads were still in prison. It’s a poignant reminder that as hard as we might try to save ourselves, God is the only one who can free us from our own prisons. This salvation comes to us in the form a little baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths, placed in an animal’s feeding trough, and surrounded by a small group of underprivileged people. Believe it or not, all our readings, therapy, and healing starts with baby Jesus. (If you don’t believe me, feel free to email me to dialogue further.) Therefore, we give, share, and love not because we want to earn God’s approval; we give, share, and love because God already approved us and made a way through His Son Jesus Christ.
May you experience peace God desires for you this Christmas and into 2023.
“Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God’s work, not mine.”
–Henri Nouwen
