Away in a Manger

While I watched Alma sing Away in a Manger this morning in church it brought me back to my first Christmas as a mother. Christmas of 2005 Connor was 6 months old and I remember rocking him and just crying thinking of Mary and baby Jesus. Most of the story is so incomprehensible for me. Watching the movie The Nativity Story last weekend really opened my eyes again. What an amazing task - being the mother of the Son of God. Being chosen by God to carry his son and care for him, teach him, love him, kiss his boo boos, wipe his tears, change his diapers (or whatever they used back then), nurse him. Could you imagine? I don't know if it is because again this Christmas I have another baby boy to cradle and adore but this Christmas I again just hold my sweet baby boy and cry. What an amazing gift! I am so . . . thankful for my precious children but also that God gave us his ONLY son. As a parent I can't even imagine giving up one of my children but He only had one and he gave it to us. Mothers, you know that intense emotional bond you have with your children, that ache you have deep down in your soul when you look at them. Could you imagine being Mary? The questions she must have had - Why me? Am I doing this right? Am I a good parent?
Ever since that first Christmas as a mother I have loved the song Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant. I added to my playlist. Listen to it and rethink that story of the first Christmas. Take some time and thank God for his precious gift of a baby, his only son, to save us all. Watch The Nativity Story and keep in mind the true reason why we celebrate Christmas.