From my days in kindergarten, I have this memory of Christmas. I, along with all of the other kindergarteners were standing in the choir loft for the Christmas program, singing the songs we had learned. One song in particular was “The Friendly Beasts” – and it was my favorite. We got to wear animal masks that we had made.
I think I was the cow. I feel confident that I was a very loud, singing cow. My memory is a bit weak, but I do remember a part of the song,
“Jesus our Savior, kind and good,
Was humbly born in a stable of wood,
The friendly beasts around him stood,
Jesus our Savior, kind and good.”
The cow’s verse talks about how he gave Jesus his manger for a bed, and gave his hay to pillow Jesus’ head. This memory keeps rolling around in my mind… and I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to think of it all.
Well, I’ll tell you what I know. I’m struggling today. Things are not going as planned and I feel a wee bit of “ba-hum-bug” settling in on me. Can’t everything just go smoothly for once? I have cleaning and laundry to get done, presents to wrap, baking and cooking to get started! The holiday will be ruined if it doesn’t go just the way I planned it! HUMPH!
So, I’ve been laying on my bed in my favorite pouting posture, waiting for other things to go wrong.
I find myself remembering the song again and again. Its almost irritating by now – Cows don’t really sing about the birth of Christ you know.
But, the thoughts in the carol are sincere. Mary couldn’t have felt as though things were perfect the night Jesus was born, that first Christmas Could she? Jesus, the King of Heaven, was born in a stable, with animals all around being smelly, dirty and making noise… Definitely not an excellent delivery situation for any mother.
Jesus, the King of the Universe, left heaven knowing He would be born into imperfection. He came to be with us, to save us and to redeem this fallen, imperfect world. The humble beginning in a stable was only the initiation of His plan.
The truth that is hard for me to understand is this: Jesus came to us without the hope of perfection. And that remains true, even all these years later. Instead He longs for my heart – my life – my all. And when I think about it – the beasts in the stable, they offered Him what they had. Maybe that’s what my Christmas should look like too – an offering of what I have, rather than what I’m sure I ought to be.
Whether its Christmas time or not, I often get caught up in trying to give Jesus my best attempt at perfection. But, in reality that’s not what He’s after at all. He wants me with my imperfections and my rough edges – so that He can use my life to bring glory to himself and to the Father.
Heavenly Father, May I , just like the words I sang so long ago, become willing to give you what I have… This year help me to once again give my heart to you… its all I have. I think that may be what you’re hoping for.
a verse from another favorite carol:
What can I give him, poor as i am?
If I were a shepherd I could give a lamb.
If I were a wiseman I could do my part.
But what I can, I’ll give Him, give Him my heart.
(written originally December 2010)
daily portion 