I mentioned in my Christmas home tour that my nativity had gone missing. Since it has yet to appear, I went shopping yesterday to scout out possible replacements that could be purchased at after Christmas sales.
I went in a couple of stores and ended up in one of my favorite little boutiques where I found the sweet little nativity pictured above. As I studied it, the store manager walked up to me and said that for good customers they were offering 50% off on all Christmas items before Christmas.
Well, that’s all I needed to hear.
So, I joyfully clutched this little nativity to my chest and paid 50% of its retail price. It was an unexpected gift.
It reminded me that this time of year is about unexpected gifts. Some are nice things like sugar cookies left on your doorstep by a neighbor and others are items that will find a home in the attic until the crazy aunt that gave it to you comes to visit. But most importantly, the reason we celebrate, the reason for our hope is about the most unexpected gift of all.
No one was looking for the son of God to be born into such lowly conditions. The Jewish people were looking for a king that would save them from their oppression, not a baby born in a stable to a mother who probably had a questionable reputation by that point.
From our perspective, over 2,000 years later, we can look at scriptures like Isaiah 53: 2-12 and see that all of this was prophesied, but at that time I’m sure it just didn’t make any sense.
He was an unexpected gift, born in an unexpected way and continued to defy expectations during His time here on Earth. My prayer for all of y’all during this holiest of seasons, is that He would surpass your expectations both at Christmas and throughout the New Year.
I know that personally, He never ceases to surpass mine.
Merry Christmas.
But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of a great joy
that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
He is Christ the Lord.”