By Karen Jantzi
She was exhausted as she fell into the soft rocking chair and put her pink slipper clad feet up on the ottoman. The 12 Days of Christmas throw took the slight chill away. Her grandfather clock was striking midnight as she gazed up at her twinkling Christmas tree. It was her fanciful delight! The low embers of the fire that had blazed all night at the family Christmas were still glowing and she felt their warmth.
She reached for the lamp and turned the light off. The soft light of the sparkling tree and the glowing sleepy fire made her feel safe and secure. Her heart felt His call. He was there to meet her in the quiet of the Christmas night.
She had put her heart into making Christmas a magical time for her family and friends and this was her moment of reward. The moment the One who saw her for who she truly was had come. She laid her head back, mellow Christmas worship playing and just listened to His Voice. Nothing calmed her more than His presence. She invested in Christmas to give her family joy and bring Him honor and glory.
Every candle lit. Each bow tied evergreen hung. All the glistening lights. Each delicious meal cooked. All to bring HIS JOY. It was her gift of love she was passing on. Perhaps only she knew its true meaning and to others it looked like fancy fanfare. But, to her, it was her gift to celebrate His entrance in her life. A life taken from sin and trouble, broken and lost, to a life of fulfillment and purpose. His gift for her to build a legacy of faith and love on.
Only this child born, Emmanuel, God is with us, could have given her new life. As she folds the Christmas throw and lays it on the chair, the star at the treetop begins to shine even brighter and she knows Her Savior has received her gift of love. A love that came in response to His life blood shed on a rugged cross. It had been beamed into a shining star of LIGHT declaring that the Christ child was born and was here to save mankind for eternity.
Sleep calls her name. She says a loving thank you to the LIGHT and finds slumber until Christmas morning beckons her name to bring more love again.