I wasn't there. I don't really know. But I imagine what it was like. Another morning, another long day of much to do awaited her as her eyes lifted from sleep. She rises from her bed, her body still tired and heart a little weary, she slips into her worn clothing and twists her hair away from her face. Quietly she moves toward the kitchen so as not to stir the children. If she could just get a few things done before they wake - well, it was just easier that way.
She stepped outside, gathered a few sticks for the fire, for the oven had to be heated for her daily baking of bread. She pulled the flour and the oil near and began to quietly mix the dough. Her mind wondered as she began to knead. Another day, another batch of dough. Did anyone appreciate or notice the things she did? There was always bread to be baked, clothes to be washed, shoes to be mended, messes to be cleaned. As her hands worked the dough, these are the things that flooded her mind. Sure, her husband loved her, she knew that. He was a wonderful man, but he worked very long, hard days to provide for them making time together scarce. She knew she had much to be thankful for. She had him and a house full of healthy children she reminded herself.
She often got lost in thoughts like this while she kneaded. It was a bit therapeutic, one could say. She lifted the dough rolling it in her hands thinking about what was "missing". There must be more. Remembering the promises she had been taught since childhood, she knew there was a Savior to come. God had promised a messiah for His people, but that was hundreds of years ago and He had been quiet since. Where was He and why was He so quiet?
Her heart asked, "Will life be empty like this forever?", as she lays the dough and presses it. She hears little feet coming her way. Those thoughts and questions in her heart would have to wait until tomorrow when she starts it all over again.
What she didn't know as she began her morning, with it's seemingly mundane tasks was that the world had already heard from God. It had been the most magnificent of nights. While she had been sleeping, her Messiah, her answer to what was missing, arrived. He was very present, there for her less than a mile away. While she had kneaded and wondered of when her people would ever hear from God again, she didn't know they already had.
And this changed everything.
God was at work orchestrating and fulfilling His plan unnoticed. It had been a glorious night. He had heard His people. He had acted. And there was now an empty spot in Heaven while the earth was full of His glory.
And she had no idea.
Friend, I know how you feel. Sometimes it seems God is quiet, like He's doing nothing in our waiting. Sometimes life seems stale, like there is something missing. But He had very much been up to something 2000 years ago and they had been totally unaware how He had been using their ordinary activities as part of His extraordinary plan.
Her need. It was taken care of.
And it may just seem like another day of being unnoticed to you, but He already has an answer to your need and He knows what is best. He has not forgotten you and your heart has been heard. Trust His timing and trust that He is completely good. And trust that He is working even when it seems He isn't.
When I think of the people in Bethlehem that Christmas morning, I think of them scurrying around doing their daily responsibilities not knowing that Greatness was right under their noses. And it reminds me that when I go through my responsibilities, it may just be that Greatness is right under my nose too. I have hope in Him and that He has been working while I have been sleeping. Sometimes our answer has already arrived and we just don't know it yet.
But when we do, oh how our hearts can sing......
She stepped outside, gathered a few sticks for the fire, for the oven had to be heated for her daily baking of bread. She pulled the flour and the oil near and began to quietly mix the dough. Her mind wondered as she began to knead. Another day, another batch of dough. Did anyone appreciate or notice the things she did? There was always bread to be baked, clothes to be washed, shoes to be mended, messes to be cleaned. As her hands worked the dough, these are the things that flooded her mind. Sure, her husband loved her, she knew that. He was a wonderful man, but he worked very long, hard days to provide for them making time together scarce. She knew she had much to be thankful for. She had him and a house full of healthy children she reminded herself.
She often got lost in thoughts like this while she kneaded. It was a bit therapeutic, one could say. She lifted the dough rolling it in her hands thinking about what was "missing". There must be more. Remembering the promises she had been taught since childhood, she knew there was a Savior to come. God had promised a messiah for His people, but that was hundreds of years ago and He had been quiet since. Where was He and why was He so quiet?
Her heart asked, "Will life be empty like this forever?", as she lays the dough and presses it. She hears little feet coming her way. Those thoughts and questions in her heart would have to wait until tomorrow when she starts it all over again.
What she didn't know as she began her morning, with it's seemingly mundane tasks was that the world had already heard from God. It had been the most magnificent of nights. While she had been sleeping, her Messiah, her answer to what was missing, arrived. He was very present, there for her less than a mile away. While she had kneaded and wondered of when her people would ever hear from God again, she didn't know they already had.
And this changed everything.
God was at work orchestrating and fulfilling His plan unnoticed. It had been a glorious night. He had heard His people. He had acted. And there was now an empty spot in Heaven while the earth was full of His glory.
And she had no idea.
Friend, I know how you feel. Sometimes it seems God is quiet, like He's doing nothing in our waiting. Sometimes life seems stale, like there is something missing. But He had very much been up to something 2000 years ago and they had been totally unaware how He had been using their ordinary activities as part of His extraordinary plan.
Her need. It was taken care of.
And it may just seem like another day of being unnoticed to you, but He already has an answer to your need and He knows what is best. He has not forgotten you and your heart has been heard. Trust His timing and trust that He is completely good. And trust that He is working even when it seems He isn't.
When I think of the people in Bethlehem that Christmas morning, I think of them scurrying around doing their daily responsibilities not knowing that Greatness was right under their noses. And it reminds me that when I go through my responsibilities, it may just be that Greatness is right under my nose too. I have hope in Him and that He has been working while I have been sleeping. Sometimes our answer has already arrived and we just don't know it yet.
But when we do, oh how our hearts can sing......
Glory to God in the highest!
Luke 2:14
