i should deem last week, "The Week of the Parties." because on this monday morning, i almost feel as though Christmas has already passed. everyone is on vacation, and i am left in an office on an empty hall, eating fudge out of my Christmas tin.

saturday we had a party at the apartment complex. eighteen kids came, we had cake, presents, games, and a time of singing. we were able to meet two new mothers. it went really well.

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it's hard for me to regain the wonder of christmas without looking forward to the secular aspects of this holiday. does anyone else feel that way? it's as if i've been so conditioned by society, that the story of Jesus' birth seems to pale against the backdrop.

at church yesterday, we sang a lot of carols and there was a live nativity and everything, and i thought about how strange it must have been for mary and joseph when the shepherds arrived. it's always a little uncomfortable when people come by uninvited. but maybe they were like, "Angels appeared to you? Come on in! Join the club!" i can't say that i would want some strange men to come and hang out in the delivery room after i've had my first baby.

why would the heavenly host that appeared to the shepherds have to appear to anybody? what is the significance of the shepherds? does their significance lie in the fact that they were really not all that significant? were they surprised to see what the angels had proclaimed was really happening? did they believe that this baby was the son of God? did it impact them later in life? did they ever hear about Jesus after that night in bethlehem? were they at the crucifixion?

you never hear anything else about the shepherds, and it just fits right in with the way Jesus was born, lived, and died.

maybe humility is the key ingredient i need to be able to once again understand the wonder of Christmas.

posted by Kelly @ 9:45:00 AM