My grandson, Simeon, is busy getting ready for Christmas and it is lovely to see the fresh, excited eyes with which children view all the festivities and fun of the Christmas season.  Do you remember the thrill of trying to guess what that strange shaped present might be?  Or the dazzling sights of the streets glittering with Christmas lights?  And the endless buzz of parties and piles of delicious food?

There is a great deal of preparation that also goes into Christmas.  The shops gearing up for the festive season from the early summer onwards.  The farmers rearing their turkeys and growing their Christmas trees months and years in advance.  Families and friends making plans about where to be when and with whom.

Simeon has also made his own Christmas cards but the other evening when he was being read the Christmas story he dissolved into hysterical crying – what on earth was the matter?!  When he calmed down we discovered that in reading the story he realised that he had spelt the word ‘Christmas’ wrong!  He had left the ‘i’ out.  What to do?  On checking the cards a small ‘i’ could be slipped into the gap between the ‘r’ and the ’s’ and thankfully the situation was redeemed.

I couldn’t help reflecting on this and wondering if it would change our approach to Christmas if we left more of the ‘i’ out and focused entirely on others?  But also how Christ – mas does teach us about how Christ embraces you and me the little ‘i’ into the centre of His presence and His plan for each of our lives and Christmas is the beginning of the story.  The precious birth of Jesus

Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky

Looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay.

How many of us long for a friend that we can trust?  People to lead us with truth and integrity?  A listening ear when things are tough?  This Christmas can I invite you to join with me at the side of the manger to worship the Saviour of the World? To open your life to the one person who can do all these things and more if we simply invite Him into the upside down chaos of our daily lives?  The incredible Good News about Jesus is that He not only came to live on earth being born as a baby but that He lived for thirty years in community with the everyday ordinary people around Him.  Sharing the joys and sorrows of everyday life.  That is the majority of the time He spent on earth simply being with people.  He knows the brokenness and mess in our lives but He still loves us and He died on the cross in full knowledge of that before you or ‘i’ made any attempt to seek Him out.

This is how God showed His love among us:  He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  1 John 4 v 9I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side,

‘Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray.

Every Blessing for a peaceful Christmas and New Year

Caroline

Rector