Fixing Mary’s Focus

This is one of my favorite Christmas decorations.  My parents gave it to us several years ago.  The figures slowly move to the melody of Christmas carols. 

My five-year-old is especially taken with it.  The little picture in my sidebar was taken several years ago.  But his fascination hasn’t wavered. 

Today, I discovered that Mary’s attention had wandered…

Her face is hidden by a hanging pot.  But if you look closely, she is lovingly exclaiming over a rock at the foot of the post.  I think a certain little boy I know had something to do with her distraction. 

Unfortunately, I can relate to her state of distraction.  How often am I focused on trivial nothings while unintentionally ignoring the precious and eternal?

God’s gift that first Christmas was immensely precious. 

All around Jerusalem that night, shepherds watched over little lambs that were being raised for one purpose, and one purpose only.  To be offered as a sacrifice for sin during the Day of Atonement.

An interesting bit of history is that shepherds would often tuck the ewes and their little lambs into caves in the hillsides to shelter them from the cold and elements.

That one of these very caves would become the birth place for God’s own son, who was called the Lamb of God, was no accident. 

John the Baptist said…

Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

John 1:29

Thus, even the birthplace of our Savior pointed to His sole purpose in life.  He was sent to die for our sins.

My middle son and I were talking about this the other day.  I likened it to me sending him down to a neighbor’s house to help them in some significant way.  Maybe to rescue the elderly couple from their burning house.

Would I send him if I knew he would die in that fire?  I know in my heart that I wouldn’t.  That I couldn’t. 

Yet, God did.  His love for us was, and is, that great. 

For my son and I, it was one of those moments where the weight of the sacrifice hit home in our hearts. 

I’m looking forward to our Christmas Eve service at church, and sharing a time of quiet reflection with my family.  Especially my two older boys who are seeing things with fresh eyes this year.

In the midst of all we have left to do, I want to make time to focus on the significant.  The eternal.  The deeply personal and sacrificial love of our heavenly Father.

I fixed our Mary’s focus.  She is once again smiling down on the baby Jesus. 

Now to keep my own attention fixed on Him…