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A Warm Christmas

Pastor's Piece, by Pr Andy

 
Some time ago it was amazing to see a part of Tasmania blessed by a white Christmas.  A sight to behold is a snow-covered area of Tasmania at Christmas, and especially when only days before it's been 25-30 degrees or hotter!  Mostly we experience a warm Christmas, which is an Aussie colloquial way of saying that it was a pretty hot Christmas.  It brings a smile to my face, and a giggle at times, when so many places are seen adorned in white Christmas props and snowflake backdrops.

Something I imagine about another form of warm Christmas, is Jesus' parents (and a few wise visitors) warmly smiling and warmly making baby sounds as He lay in the manger.  Imagine the warmth of that cold night, warm affirming hugs and discussion, the smiles, the gift of His presence, the presents from those present, the joy, and the love.  It's still special to see a newborn, a child or indeed any person receive the warmth and the affirming words of care and also at Christmas.

Well, a situation took me almost by surprise recently.  We were running an awards and recognition day for families at the church.  It was an idea that came about through planning chats and teamwork of the ministry team running Home School Chapels, to make a day of affirmation and recognition for the children who might otherwise not have experienced an awards or speech day/night. 

We planned for this Home School Chapels Awards and Recognition day, not completely comprehending how valued it might be.  We hoped and worked on parents recognising the efforts of their children, each parent could give their own child an award/recognition.

It was impressive, and remarkable, to see parents showing recognition for the efforts of their children, but more than that!  More, yes so much more!  They were each affirming the character of their child!  SENSATIONAL!  And I'm not embarrassed to say it, it brought a tear to my eye.  Why was I emotional?  Well, it was to see each family speaking in front of other families to affirm, uplift and highlight each child's character!  This was powerful!  It was a moment with God's love seen so practically in such a local, missional, and such a blessed manner. 

You see, we often think positive and valuable things about one another, young and more experienced in life and age, but something changes, and life happens.  We miss expressing sufficiently enough the words of encouragement and affirmation often needed.  Sometimes we try to express it, but it's late, or may even be too late.  It's true also with children, we can reproach or correct without realising the power of expressing affirmation of their character as it develops.  This reminded me of the powerful Biblical lessons of affirmation as I sat with Pr Daron and Rachel and observed these parents affirming their child's character, not just performance!  Indeed, they were actually speaking future and eternity into the life of their children, potentially without even realising it.  A special moment indeed!

It's good to recognise that Jesus' parents raised Jesus in love and affirmation, in the character of His heavenly Father.  And the way these parents encouraged and affirmed their children's character reminded me of the great and powerful privilege of affirmation.  Things grow well in warmth.  So too did Jesus grow in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and fellow humankind, according to Luke 2:52.  The societal status quo might be about performance, correction, competition, but this powerful reminder is about the warmth of affirmation, and why not continue with affirmation into adulthood also.  This practical lesson taught me that with affirmation and encouragement, we can apply this same warmth and growth into our lives together and especially this season.

So as my mind's eye is cast back in remembrance of the birth of Jesus, I realise a similitude between the moments of Jesus birth and of His experience as a child encouraged by love, care, affirmation and joy; and of the same qualities shown by the parents at the Home School Chapels Awards and Recognition Day.  That the meaning of Christmas, which to God and yes to us also, is all about relationships and yes it's about affirmation and warmth. 

So it is likely to be a warm Christmas in Australia and as I reflect on the distant and recent memories, I'm encouraged that we can pray together and pray for a Christmas of warm relationships between our families, between our church families and our communities around this warm nation.  May you also share with, and share in, the experience of the warmth of affirmation, and of encouragement, of care, and of joy this Christmas season!  May it be a warm Christmas in your part of Australia, bring the warmth with you!

In remembrance with gratitude and hope

Pr Andy

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