In the arms of Jesus

   When I was eight years old, my mom had a third child.  My baby sister had to stay in the hospital in an incubator for a week because she was struggling to get oxygen when born.  I could not see my baby sister at the hospital since kids were not allowed in that area.  It was hard on me waiting to see my sister.  Yet the time came when she was able to come home.  My grandparents were in town, and they had taken me and my other sister out to dinner.  I was told that when we returned home, my mom would be back from the hospital.  Getting out of the car in the parking lot of our townhouse complex, my dad was there to greet us and said Mom and the baby were inside.  I immediately ran toward our townhouse.  I ran fast.
   Entering the townhouse, I ran up the flight of stairs.  Going into my parent’s bedroom, there was my mom with the baby.  I was so excited, and I told my mom I wanted to be the first one to hold the baby.  Mom had me sit on the edge of her bed, which was rather low to the floor.  Then she unwrapped the blanket a bit from the baby, and placed my baby sister in my arms.  Looking at that baby was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen.
   Every Christmas is an opportunity to “look” upon the baby Jesus lying on hay.  Every Christmas is an opportunity to imagine holding the Savior of the world in your arms.  Looking at that baby, I go from being reminded of the miracle of life to being reminded of the overwhelming fact that Jesus, God the Son, came to us as a baby.  And that baby whom Mary held in her arms in a manger over two thousand years ago is now God who holds me in His arms when all hope seems lost.  Jesus was a man, yet He was no mere man, rather Jesus was the Christ, fully human and fully God.
   Christmas is a special opportunity to remember the birth of Christ, yet we now know the full story since that birthday.  Because of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, there is hope offered to all people.  Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the substitutional atonement for the wages of sin.  If you believe in Jesus, you will have everlasting life, and be held spiritually by Jesus forever.
Hunter Irvine