CHRISTMAS 2019

This morning I woke to find that my dog ate half of the Christmas candy I made.  I forgot to warn her chocolate is dangerous for dogs!  Then I dropped my vintage milk jug water pitcher shattering glass and spilling water all over the floor--also dangerous for doggie paws.  It may be a "Wonderful Life," but not everything is perfect, even at Christmas.  Yet, this is just small stuff in the scheme of things.

This morning I woke with this thought: God inserted Himself to save His Son from a wicked ruler, but did not save all the baby boys two and younger in Bethlehem and its environs that Herod sent his soldiers to slaughter.

 "A voice was Ramah (on the way to Bethlehem), 

weeing and great mourning, 

Rachel weeping for her children; 

and she refused to be comforted,

because they were no more."

(Matthew 2:18)

Were any of those babes that Herod slew sons of the same shepherds who heralded the good news as told them by the angels, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace among men

with whom He is pleased"? (Luke 2:14)

However, the angel warned Joseph to take his little family to Egypt to escape the baby blood bath.  As we celebrate the baby in the manger, there is the echo of Rachel weeping for her children.  So many trip on their way to salvation asking how a good God could allow such evil.  There is that.  But we're not in the Garden of Eden anymore, Dorothy.  The battle of good and evil is constant.  Though not all battles are won, we know who wins the war.  

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Henry W. Longfellow,

1807-1882

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men...

And in despair I bow'd my head.

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

'For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.'"

Once when Robin was three, she prayed for Grandma to have a baby.  Does God answer prayer?  Fortunately, He did not answer that one or there might have been another story of biblical proportions like Sarah and Abraham or Elizabeth and Zacharias.   

Here is a carol from 1599

"A child is born in Bethlehem:

Awaiteth him all Jerusalem.

Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor!

Dulcis est amor!

(Love, how sweet is love!)

The Son took upon him humanity,

That to the Father thus draws nigh:

Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor!

Dulcis est amor!

The angels above were singing then,

Below were rejoicing the shepherd men.

Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor!

Dulcis est amor!

Now let us all with the angels sing,

Yea, now let our hearts for gladness spring,

Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor, Amor!

Dulcis est amor!