The Day After

Every year, I look forward to Christmas. I love the trees, the lights, visits with friends, and the cookies! I spend hours shopping for that perfect gift. Christmas movies, Christmas music, Christmas stories—I am a sucker for them all! I could list dozens of my favorite things for this time of year, but one thing I never seem to get giddy about is December 26th.
 

Bonnie Piovesan

​Now, I do appreciate the day after Christmas. That is the day to play with toys, eat leftovers, cozy up with some cookies and milk and watch a movie. The wonder of the holiday season is already becoming fond memories to recount in years to come. The 26th is the beginning of the end of the festive days of cheer. But in reality, the day after Christmas marks a whole new kind of beginning.
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The day Jesus was born was the long-awaited fulfillment of a promise that God made to humanity to one day send someone to be our redeemer. The day after Jesus was born began the work of that long-awaited redeemer. Some may say that Jesus was only one day old and perhaps as a baby He just slept and ate. I agree. In order to redeem us fully, Jesus had to live like us. He had to be a helpless baby. There were no angels attending him, just a young mama and so He had to cry for His needs to be met. No longer seated with the Father, He had to be raised and taught by a humble carpenter daddy. Jesus our redeemer had chosen the confines of humanity, and He had to learn our ways so He could teach us His ways.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet He did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:15-16
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God knows our needs; He knows what we are facing because He has been here with us. The day after Christmas I imagine Mary and Joseph woke up and started the hard work of “What now?” They needed work, a trip to the market, and a hot meal. They had to find a home, the stable was temporary and only meant for one holy night. The shepherds were gone, the wise men were on their way, and Herod was blissfully unaware that the true King had come. Christmas day shifted the cosmos, the day-after shook our very understanding of how far God was willing to go to be our redeemer.

For centuries, people knew that God was sending a messiah king, but their understanding was a warrior king come to smite the enemy and raise up their nation in glory. Jesus came to understand us and to help us understand God as our Father.  Jesus had to come as a baby, be raised by an earthly father, learn our language, laugh at silly things, cry, dance, eat, drink, feel tired—all so He could communicate with us in terms we could understand.

The day after Christmas, Jesus simply woke up and got to work being a sweet baby. He did all of that so you and I could be called sons and daughters of the Most High. So although I love Christmas in all its joyous glory, I am so grateful for the day after when God chose to live among us and walk this earth to show us His deep love and care. As you settle into all of the days after Christmas, take some time to consider the many ways that God works to show you His love and perhaps how you can work with God to show others love.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Blessings,
Bonnie