At 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, I was in church with my family.  The pastor introduced his family, and pointed out that his daughter was with child, and in fact, this baby was supposed to have come yesterday, so it could be any minute!  They already knew the baby’s name.  And I thought… you know, over two thousand years ago, there was a young woman with child, and they knew what to name the baby boy, Jesus!  Our pastor was obviously so excited about his soon-to-be-born grandbaby!!!  When you think about it… don’t you know Mary & Joseph were just sooo excited about their new baby!!!!!  Just try to picture it… a young couple expecting this first birth – all the anticipation on that first Christmas… doesn’t it just make you smile?!?!  Oh the joy a new baby brings…  Father, please restore in us, your children, the joy of thy salvation!!!  Happy Birthday Jesus!!  Merry Christmas folks!!

I decorated my Christmas tree the other night, and if I do say so myself, it looks pretty good (as usual)!  I thought about how the same ornaments are used every year, and how the tree takes on the same look every year.  But I got to thinkin… the ornaments are in a different spot, on the tree, year after year – yet it looks the same every year.  How is that?!  Perhaps we are like that…  Let’s take funerals for an example – while many funerals are basically the same, no two are alike, which is the way it should be.  (Actually, I wish more families would let us help them create unique services for each unique individual.)  I’m not sure what I’m trying to say – I guess I’m just kinda thinkin out loud…  Should the tree look the same every year – some like it that way – you know… tradition – while others say the tree oughta have a different theme every year, so that it’s always unique.  Certainly, we’d hafta agree that they’re aren’t any rules – there’s no right or wrong.  Another example (or two) would be the seashore… we stand and watch in amazement how the water splashes up on the shore and then is drawn back out to sea – it’s constantly changing, and yet the consistency of it makes it always look the same.  I think it’s the same with fire – we’re warmed as we watch – the flames roar and breath, forever changing, and yet the fire continues to look the same – it’s that consistency again.  It’s like the leaves on the trees in your yard… every year, they turn colors, then fall off – beautifully announcing the change of the seasons.  In life, we have seasons, do we not?  As these seasons change year after year after year, the very fact that they consistenly change is evidence that they stay the same – they stay the same by consistently changing.  With the human race, we consistently have ‘turn over’ – when one dies, another is born, and such is life whether we’re talking humans, ocean water, fire, trees, and yes… even our very own (created) Christmas trees!!!  Perhaps when you look at your Christmas tree, go ahead… in awe, think of how that beautiful tree represents the birth of Jesus Christ who was dead (and buried), but rose from the dead, and is alive today, at the right hand of God the Father – there we go again, with that consistency… Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ death, and Jesus’ life everlasting!!!  Same Jesus, same look, and yet we’re never the same once He enters our heart!  It’s like those ornaments… same ornaments, same look, and yet they’re never placed in the same spot…

Today I talked with a friend (at the grocery store) who is (nicely) recovering from surgery.  My friend received a few new bones in the spine (in the neck).  Well, the bones aren’t exactly new – they’re just new to my friend.  See… someone had to die in order for my friend to be cured of chronic pain.  And not only did someone have to die, but their bones had to be donated, which I think is wonderful!  Sometimes people donate not only their organs, but also their bones, eyes, skin – some people actually donate their entire body, which is most unselfish!  Besides encouraging you to be ‘a donor’ when your time comes – and it will - I want to set your mind at ease by telling you that when a person donates all these things, their body is still viewable – there can still be a visitation, an open-casket funeral, etc.  The only time when one might be able to tell – not always, but sometimes – is with the donation of eyes – sometimes, there is a bit of swelling around the socket.  Otherwise, you’d not be able to tell when a donation has been made.  For example, if you donate your skin, they don’t take it all – they take a patch – see what I’m saying…  Just consider it, not only for yourself, but for your loved ones should their organs be elligible for donation.  My wife wanted to donate her organs, but they weren’t elligible, which saddened her.  Take good care of your body, and when your time comes, pass it forward!