Today is the fourth post in the Spirit of Christmas series. My guest today is writer and poet, Joy Lenton. Joy is one of my Twitter and Facebook friends. Her words never fail to offer hope, even in the painful and desperate places. Joy is an encourager who is quick to support and share the words of other writers. May you find peace through Joy’s words as you read.
Nothing else quite stirs our deep protective and nurturing instincts more than a newborn baby.
Such sweet vulnerability resides within.
A simple grasp of tiny fist clinging to adult finger a reminder of how fragile this new life is.
And those feet. Adorable, perfect miniatures of our own. Yet in the months ahead limbs unfurl and grow strong to support a toddler’s frame.
As we bend to kiss a brow, wipe tears, give nourishment, witness growth and change before our eyes, do we ever think of Mary, mother of our Lord, as she lovingly tended to her son?
See Him as infant helpless.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..”
Hands that flung stars into space reduced to starfish-baby span ~ made calloused by carpentry, torn by sharp nails, pinioned to a cross of sorrow and shame.
A mouth that spoke creation into existence now made milky-soft, dependent ~ to become a voice of wisdom, instruction and healing for others.
Feet used to circling the world with silent steps ~ now made to tread weary over dusty pathways, carry a heavy cross and be impaled there for our sakes.
Arms reaching for a mother’s loving touch ~ outstretched in out-poured love and grace to save the world from itself.
“and the government will be on his shoulders”
Head wobbly, unsteady as babe in arms ~ bleeding, pierced through with crown of thorns.
Body swaddled tender close ~ hung on a cross, readied for burial, death and resurrection.
Entering our life to give His life for all.
Incarnate made infant.
Infinite rendered incapable.
Creator made creature.
Heavenly taking on humanity.
“And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace..”
In becoming human flesh, Jesus willingly chose to participate fully in our frail humanity.
Taking our weakness and fragile frame. Taking our vulnerability and pain. Taking our sin, sorrow, suffering and shame.
*****
The entrance of new life is a great cause for celebration. As a newly fledged grandma, I delight in the birth of our grandson. He has been paid attention to by family and friends, appeared on social media, been photographed, videoed and generally welcomed and fussed over lovingly ~ as is his right.
But it made me think about the babe at Bethlehem, Mary’s child.
He was born in virtual obscurity even though He is King of kings.
Delivered in humble circumstances, although His birth was prophesied, foretold hundreds of years beforehand, announced by an angel and heralded by an angelic choir.
“Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom..”
Instead of being warmly welcomed by all around, Jesus was in danger for His very life as an earthly king sought to kill Him.
Gifts were given to Him that symbolised His life:gold for kingship, frankincense for His priestly role, and myrrh as an acknowledgement of His suffering and death to come.
When people look at the infant, do they see the Man of Sorrows to come?
Do they realise the huge significance of His coming to earth to die for them?
Sadly, not always.
“..establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
Few stop to see beyond the sweetness of a sleeping infant cradled in a manger.
He is the reason why we celebrate Christmas but the very person most people overlook and trample over in their haste to get to the shops and spend, spend, spend.
Yet He spent His life for us ~ for you and me.
******
As I celebrate Christmas this year, I will have the joy and delight of meeting my grandson in the flesh for the very first time. An event I anticipate with much excitement!
I will hold him close, stroke his soft skin, sigh over his cuteness, inhale the sweet fragrance of him.
I will pray over him, and maybe rejoice over him with singing as God does with us.
And my mind will stray to that first Christmas when Christ the Lord entered our earthly existence.
Gratitude will rise and I will thank Him for coming. For being Saviour, Lord and Friend. For His great gift of new life for all ~ now and into eternity.
My hope and prayer is that your eyes will see Him this way too.
Joy Lenton is a wife, mother, newly-fledged grandma and M.E sufferer. A lot of her days are spent in PJs penning poetry and prose. She loves connecting with people, reading, drinking coffee and eating dark chocolate. Before chronic illness scuppered her plans, she worked as a nurse. Joy has a heart to support and encourage others by sharing her faith and life experiences. She blogs at Words of Joy and Poetry Joy and would love to connect with you on Facebook or Twitter. And you should connect with her, seriously.
So richly blessed by Joys’s words! Timely message to the world of souls! “When people look at the infant, do they see the Man of Sorrows to come?” Amen! I am reminded of this beautiful hymn!
“Once our blessèd Christ of beauty
Was veiled off from human view;
But through suffering, death and sorrow
He has rent the veil in two.”
God bless you Rebekah, God bless you Joy!
Thanks very much, Kathy, for sharing the words of this lovely hymn. I’m richly blessed as always by your sweet encouraging comments and insights! And I share in thanking Rebekah for the opportunity to guest post here. It’s a great honour and privilege to share her space for a while. God bless
x
Joy, This is simply beautiful. I do pray that we all look a “Few stop to see beyond the sweetness of a sleeping infant cradled in a manger”. That they find the hope that came in that sweet baby.
Thank you for share and pray you have a joyous Christmas with that new grand baby.
Thank you, Amy, for seeing “the hope that came in that sweet baby” and praying for others to see it too. Yes, we intend to enjoy every moment we can spend with our little grandson! Blessings
x
Joy, I appreciate these profound and poignant insights. You point out the great paradox of how our great God, Jesus Christ, our Creator became the creature……and the many paradoxes in between. once wrote a poem called Paradox, along these lines because I was so amazed by it all. You said it so beautifully. Thank you for adding to the joy and meaning of Christmas. It’s wonderful to read your words here….and congratulations on that new grandbaby!
Blessings,
Lynn Morrissey
I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, Lynn. It’s lovely to meet you too! This season does lend itself well to reflection and poetry is a great way to express the inexpressible. I’d love to see your poem. It sounds intriguing. Thanks very much for the congratulations on our new grandson!
x
oh, I love that: poetry expresses the inexpressible. How true! Beautifully put. You know, let me try to dig it up, and I”ll send it to Rebekah. I was just looking for it the other day, and not putting my hands on it. Now, I’m wondering where I’ve filed it!
Merry Christmas!
Lynn
No rush, Lynn. Whenever you are ready! This season is busy enough without taking on any extra tasks.
xx
Have a wonderful Christmas! Blessings
This is a beautifully written blog, Joy. Nothing like holding a new baby to put Mary’s experiences as a new mother, holding the infant Savior of the world in her arms into clear perspective. The sharp contrasts of the cradle and the cross, laid side by side so closely is a bit disturbing, but really, that IS why He came…to die in our place on a cruel Roman cross. Folks get so twinkle-dusted with the babe in the manger this time of year, perfectly willing to forget that He did not stay there, but is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” requiring a personal decision, a choice, on the partof every man, woman, and child. What will YOU do with Jesus, which is called the Christ? Good job with this one!
Hi Neil. It’s great to see you here! Thanks very much for stopping by to offer your insightful thoughts in this lovely, encouraging comment. Yes, I was a bit afraid that the stark juxtaposition between “the cradle and the cross” might be a little uncomfortable for some people. We do tend to get a bit starry-eyed with the wonder of the Incarnation as Christ enters our world as a helpless infant and then forget the real purpose of His coming. Yet we cannot think of Christmas without the shadow of Easter lingering too. Such pain brought forth such a glorious salvation. There is every reason to be thankful and rejoice in that too.
Dear Joy
I have been out of town for a few days to attend Simon’s my oldest’s prize giving ceremony in PE. I am just as proud of him for although he couldn’t build, design or write anything for eight weeks from July, due to his broken right hand which was in plaster of Paris, he was awarded the first runner-up for Architect Student of the Year and received a nice sum of money. He also passed his Masters degree cum laude! And just yesterday he was still my baby for whom I have never stopped praying. Congratulations to you also, dear granny!! I can only imagine the joy you are experiencing with this great, wonderful gift of a grandchild. Actually, I am a teeny, little bit jealous!! Cannot wait to become granny too! This post is just a masterpiece in showing the absolute vulnerability that comes with being human and how Jesus willingly laid down his power as God to live dependently every second Hw walked this earth on the power of our Pappa. Sorry to be a bit late visiting; just glad I didn’t miss it altogether!
Blessings Xx
Mia
Dear Mia, I am so pleased your travels had such a wonderful purpose. Your son has done magnificently. How proud you must be of him! Of course you had to try to be there for the ceremony, even at the cost of payback and potential setbacks in your health. I am praying for swift recovery for you from the effects of the journey and extra busyness.
Truth be told, I am still adjusting to the thought, experience and title of grandma! It is wonderful though and I hope your own desires in that area will soon be fulfilled. I am way behind my twin sister ~ she has 4 grandsons and the eldest is a teenager! You’ll love being a grandma, Mia. It’s so precious to see the next generation coming into bloom. And those heartfelt prayers can continue as a heritage for them too.
Thank you for finding me here and leaving a sweet comment at a time when you are so depleted. I really appreciate it, my friend. Blessings Xx
Dearest Joy, How beautiful your words and sentiments are!
Love how you connected both Jesus and your grandchild in this meaningful post!!
A tender and seasoned heart you are, my friend. I am thankful our lives have intersected.
Having 9 grandchildren from 16 to 8 years, I have to warn you. The joy you’ll receive from the little one, will not be equal to any other. Grandmotherhood…One of the greatest blessings!
Did you ever think of writing the little soul a welcoming and thankful letter for choosing to come to your family and this earth?
I wrote and painted a large card to welcome all of my grancchildren on a large piece of drawing paper, which the parents have framed and hung on the child’s wall. Small and big letters, different colors, beautiful naivete images in the back and fore ground, words of love, hope, of thanks and promise, blessings and expectations! The childfen treasure them!
Wishing you the best Christmas ever, and a healthy beautiful little baby with a heart like Jesus’!
Dearest Katina, thanks very much for sharing your thoughts here. You really bless me with your kind and tender words! I’m so thankful to know you too. And as a seasoned grandmother, you have offered excellent advice. I have already welcomed Elliott with a poem about him in the womb ~ http://wordsofjoy75.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/journeyingwhere-it-all-starts.html ~ and another one celebrating his arrival ~ http://poetryjoy.com/2013/11/25/new-arrival/ ~ which I’ve given links to in case you missed them and may want to read them. But I love the letter idea too! It’s a great idea for his first Christmas present. and will make a lovely keepsake.
Wishing you and yours a truly blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year ahead. Blessings Xx
Rebecah, thanks you for the beautiful post!
Joy knows how to touch hearts!
Wishing you blessings and light for Christmas!
Thank you, Joy, for your gentle words that speak truth and joy…and for the poignant photo of an infant’s hand-grasp. I enjoy so many of your writings…especially this one, at this time of year. Blessings to you and yours, Carol
Thanks very much for stopping by, Carol. I’m really blessed by your sweet comment! And that image is darling isn’t it? Not many can resist the allure of baby’s tiny hand clasping an adult finger. May you and yours enjoy a Happy Christmas! Blessings
xx