Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. – Luke 2:11
I remember as a child, Christmas was a magical time. It was a time filled with family and love. We spent every Christmas Eve with grandparents and great grandparents from Mom’s side of the family. We spent Christmas Day with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins from Dad’s side of the family. Christmas Eve was spent driving around looking at Christmas lights and then going to church with the family. Christmas was a magical time, but it was also a simple time for us. Our family focused on the true meaning of Christmas.
I loved going to church on Christmas Eve and hearing the Christmas story, a story full of hope and love. One thing that made a lasting impression on me was the fact that the story is full of normal, everyday people. People just like me. Mary was not a princess; she was a simple girl. Joseph was not a king; he was an ordinary man. Even though they were everyday people, God picked them to bring Jesus into the world and to care for Him as He grew up. The shepherds were not men of wealth; they were regular, hard working men. Even though they were ordinary men, God sent His angels to tell them of the birth of Jesus. God’s angels told them to share the story of Jesus to everyone. They were ordinary people doing extraordinary things, as God had asked.
The Christmas story brings me hope. To know that God calls upon the ordinary, everyday people to do His work in this world. If we listen, God will give us the knowledge and strength to do what He asks of us. We may be ordinary people, but we can do extraordinary things with God’s help. This brings me hope and lets me know that I have a purpose in this world, and so do you.
Lee Ann Simpson, Asbury Campus Program Ministry Assistant
