Welcome
I guess it happens every year, but Christmas has really snuck up
on me. Often at Christmas in all the hustle and bustle it is easy
to forget to focus on our Savior. May we all take time out of our
busy schedules to spend time worshipping the King of Kings.
Welcome to all our new CWM subscribers. We are glad you are here.
The article this
month is one I wrote several years ago and decided to bring back.
It is important for us and our children to know that the nativity
scene isn’t always as pleasant looking as we would like to
think.
Coaching Services
Often times CWMs would like some feedback or direction on a difficult
situation, but are not ready to sign up for regular coaching sessions.
So, I have decided to offer spot coaching sessions for $50 for a
30 minute session. Coaching sessions are conducted over the phone
and the cost to you is your long distance call and the coaching
fee. If you would like to schedule a spot coaching session send
an email to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com
and put coaching in the subject heading. I will email you back and
schedule a time for us to meet. Feel free to email me if you have
any questions.
Article – Christmas Over 2,000 Years Ago
Often when we tell the Christmas story or have Christmas plays
at our churches we romanticize the birth of our Savior. All of the
children are angelic like (at least for a little while), clean,
and have clean clothes. There is clean hay for the stable. Everything
seems calm.
Let’s travel back 2,000 years ago to visit what it was really
like that Christmas morn. First, of all Mary and Joseph had to travel
over 70 miles by foot and donkey to get to Bethlehem. Can you imagine
being 9 months pregnant and walking or riding a donkey for 70 miles?
Along the way, did they sleep outside or find shelter? We don’t
know, but it could not have been easy.
Once they arrived in Bethlehem all Mary probably wanted was a place
to lie down and rest. But, as we all know there was no room in the
inn. How helpless Joseph must have felt and how weary Mary had to
be. Then, the only place they could find was a stable. Most of us
envision a barn. Yet, scholars often think Mary gave birth to Jesus
in a cave. (Side note, if you have not seen the movie Nativity Story
I would highly recommend it for its accuracy). So, Mary most probably
alone without her mother or any female relatives gave birth to the
Son of God. Don’t you imagine Joseph wished for Mary’s
mother or his mother as well? I would imagine he wasn’t real
excited about having to help deliver a baby. We often forget how
young Mary and Joseph were. Many scholars believe Mary was around
14 or 15. Joseph was probably a little older. What an awesome responsibility
for two very young people. Yet, Mary and Joseph were not alone.
Angels and shepherds herald his birth. Wise men that are always
in our Christmas plays probably did not arrive for another 2 years.
God was certainly watching over Mary and Joseph that first beautiful
Christmas Day.
As we reflect on Christmas let us not forget that the first Christmas
was not the sanitized version we see in our minds or in our churches.
There were animals with all their “glorious” smells
nearby, no bed for Mary to give birth, and two very young people
far from home. Yet, all they would ever need would be their son
who was born and eventually he would become their Savior. Mary and
Joseph gave up so much to be the earthly parents of the Son of God.
They were willing to leave their home which they did not return
to for several years after his birth.
What are we willing to give up for Christ this Christmas and every
day of the year? Are we willing to die to self and live for him?
Are we willing to seek his way and not the world’s? We may
feel alone if we seek to follow God’s path, but we are never
alone. Just as Mary and Joseph while feeling very alone that one
Christmas morn were not alone. Jesus who came to earth in human
form was with them and in their very presence. May we celebrate
the Christmas season by reflecting on the best gift we have ever
received, the gift of Christ. May we serve him daily in everything
we do.
Final Thoughts
Christmas traditions are so important to children and to your family.
What Christmas traditions can you start or continue that reinforces
the real meaning of Christmas? Feel free to post your Christmas
traditions at the CWM blog, www.christianworkingmoms.blogspot.com.
Till next time,
Kimberly M. Chastain
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working
Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the
author of The Voices of Christian Working Moms, 2 ebooks and an
online Bible study. To find out how to receive coaching tips by
email daily, go to http://www.kimberlychastain.com/cwmtips.htm.
To find out more about her books go to www.christianworkingmom.com.
For a free, initial coaching session send an email to free@kimberlychastain.com.
