It’s that time again. Time to swap out new calendars for old. Time to sing Auld Lang Syne, and watch the glittering ball drop. It’s a time of resolutions, seldom kept, and praying for better days ahead. It’s the time to step from the old year into the new. Yes, hard as it is to believe, the old year is mere hours from limping into the archives to join his predecessors, making way for the baby New Year to take over.
 
I have to tell you, I’m not sorry to see the old year limp away: it wasn’t very kind. Yet, as I stand at this point in time, with one foot at the ready to step over the threshold into the New Year, I am able to recognize God’s hand at work. For my family and myself: as well as many of you, this has been a year of loss and grief, pain and anguish, and as recently as Christmas day…incredible fear. There were times I wondered if God honestly had a handle of things. It has also been a year of great blessings and miracles.

They say hindsight is 20-20, and I have to agree. Often, it is only in looking back with this renewed sight that we are able to see God’s handiwork, His blessings, His miracles.  My go to scripture is, Philip. 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” A former pastor explained that in ancient Hebrew this would have read, “I can endure all things…” We are able to endure the hardships of life, not through our human strength, but rather through and with the strength of Christ. He promised that He would be with us always, He would never leave us nor forsake us. I honestly can’t imagine enduring life without Him, without His love and strength. Can you?
 
Yes, it’s that time of year again: time to step into a new, and uncertain year. Not one of us knows what our future holds. Oh we may have plans made, and think that we have our future mapped out, but then life happens. Surprise! Thankfully, while we may not know what this New Year may bring for us, we can know with certainty that our future rests in God’s all-powerful hands. Does He have a handle on things? Yes!

​The journey was hard, and long. The timing, he thought, could not have been worse. Though many others journeyed the same road, all heading toward one destination; his tiny group, a group of three, were far different than the others. The other travelers could not know, nor would they have believed if told, that they were indeed journeying in the presence of a King. But he knew. And still he wondered. Why he had been chosen for such a great task?
 
His steps were slow, the path rugged, and though his master’s hand was gentle, he sensed an urgency in the man’s voice. Time was running out, this he knew. He would run if he could, but the burden upon his back was heavy, and fragile. One cautious step followed another. Each step he knew caused her pain, yet she never uttered a protest. Her voice and touch encouraged him, as one mile turned into another, one day into the next.

His eyes sought those of his master from time to time, seeking confidence in their gaze. Silent conversations traveled between the two: concern, fear, encouragement, and trust. Though both were fearful that time would in fact run out, they also held onto the glimmer of faith, that all would be as planned. The two walked, side-by-side; mile upon mile, step after step, traveling toward their final destination, and God’s incredible plan. But all was not working according to plan: at least not the plan of the small group.
 
 The hour was late when the three travelers finally walked the narrow roads of the tiny town. Relief coursed through each of them. She would finally be able to rest. But relief was fleeting. Her time had in deed come, pain gripped her body, and for the first time she cried out.
 
 His concern escalated to dread, as his master ran from one door to the next, knocking and pleading; a room, a bed, a mat in the corner was all they asked. But time after time the answer was no. The tiny town was full. There were no more rooms.  He knew the time was near. Her time had come; still his master pleaded. Finally, one man took pity. “No,” he said, “I have no room to offer, all I have is a small stable.”

The night was not a “silent night” within the small stable. He watched helpless, as she cried in the agony of birth, and as his master, with shaking hands and gentle voice, brought new life into the stable—and into the world. A new light suddenly shone in the midnight sky. A star greater than any had ever witnessed, hovered high above the stable. Its beam cast a glorious glow upon the three weary travelers—and the newborn babe.
 
 A new sound was heard above the rustling of the animals. The small donkey stood slowly to his feet, and one step at a time, ever so slowly, walked to his master’s side. The cry of newborn life wafted through the stable. All the animals rose to their feet, and step by step, ever so slowly, walked to the manger to gaze upon the baby within. Each and every animal, including the donkey so young, bent their knees and bowed their heads; for they knew they were in the presence of The King.

The little donkey fixed his eyes upon the tiny infant, and listened to his sweet voice. Awe and wonder filled his gentle heart, as he looked into the face of the infant King: an awe, which would continue to flow within his grateful heart all the days of his life. The little donkey smiled, as only donkeys can do, as a new sound filled the stable; a sound so faint as to be barely heard – the sound of angels singing on high.
 
The donkey lay upon a soft bed of straw, as the swaddled King slept peacefully in the manger. The soft stirrings of stabled animals comforted his weary bones. His eyes were heavy, as he pondered all that had brought him to this place, and time. It would later be told, that the shepherds were among the first to see the newborn King, but the young donkey knew the truth. For the eyes of those who could never speak the story, the gentle animals within the stable, were the first to see the King and hear his voice. With a contented sigh, the donkey fell fast asleep. 

Merry Christmas to all.
​Please take a minute to enjoy the music Video below.