The Meaning of Christmas
With the holidays upon us, often we forget about the true meaning of Christmas as we rush about purchasing gifts, attending seasonal parties we would prefer to avoid, and stuffing our faces with the endless piles of candy and cookies that appear.
Solange and I would like to take this opportunity to revisit the true meaning of the holidays and the birth of Jesus. It is a timeless tale that serves to inspire and uplift. Without further ado.
As we know, Mary was heavy with child. Her husband Joseph, a fine carpenter and craftsman, was out of work due to a shutdown of the pyramid project on which he was working on in Egypt. While the Egyptians were working out the financial details of the project, Joseph and Mary decided a trip to Jerusalem during this down period was in order.
Carefully placing Mary on their hybrid donkey, the couple began their journey. The road was filled with many other travelers and during the journey, the couple met new and interesting people, stopped frequently to refuel their donkey with hay, and enjoyed some tasty treats and refreshing libations. Mary and Joseph also sang some of the latest hit songs to pass the time.
At long last they arrived in Jerusalem. To their dismay, the city was packed. A parade featuring people dressed in animal costumes as well as a number of conventions, had swelled the city’s population. Joseph desperately sought an inn for them to stay hoping to use the bonus points he had accumulated on his hieroglyph freedom card to defray the costs. After much frustration, and the announcement from Mary that the baby would soon appear, the couple were referred to a nearby stable by a kindly inn keeper.
The stable, while sparse, was nevertheless comfortable and warm. As they settled in, Joseph’s mind began to turn. He realized that the stable would make an ideal rehab project and that with his skill, he could transform the lower floors into an income-producing retail component and build a second level as their new home. He envisioned a space covered in bright terra cotta tiles, beautiful rugs and an art deco sofa. These plans would have to wait, unfortunately, as Mary began her labor.
Outside, the night sky was ablaze with stars so bright they made night seem like day. As they anxiously awaited the birth of the Christ child, angels from above suddenly appeared. They announced that God had sent them and that all was well. By this time, crowds had begun to gather sensing a momentous event was about to happen. The angels, used to detail and organization, set about creating name tags for those arriving, managing crowd control, and serving as an information resource for the curious.
As Mary’s labor progressed, dignitaries continued to arrive. First, the three wise men appeared bearing lavish gifts. It was decided by the blessed couple to share this rich bounty and the frankincense was lit which everyone, including the animals in the manger, enjoyed inhaling. As they awaited the birth, the wise men posed for pictures with members of the crowd. The wise men, sensing the monumentally of this event, carefully recorded the details which could then be used for social media.
Next to arrive were the shepherds. Their journey had been long because they were unexpectedly delayed due to a river crossing which did not go well. Exhausted but ecstatic to witness this amazing event, the shepherds were delighted to find a tray of baklava and olives which were brought by Greeks who were in town for one of the conventions.
After many hours, Mary gave birth to the Christ child. Immediately, there was joy throughout the land. It had been a long night, and though exhausted, Mary proved a gracious hostess. By this time, the crowds around the manger had grown tremendously. The angels, thinking quickly, instituted a wait-list system for those wishing to pay homage to the baby Jesus. Tickets with specific times were issued and a small memento in the form of an Asian Geisha doll (provided by the Japanese delegation who were also in town for convention) were given out which was greatly appreciated by all.
With the birth of the Christ child, a new era had begun. One of hope, peace and compassion for our fellow man and all God’s creatures.
It truly was a wondrous event.
The end.
Tips for Gracious Living 