Understanding Christmas
Understanding Christmas
America was recovering from the great depression when Nora Piper got her first job. After her dad died, the family desperately needed the income. It was a temporary but responsible Christmas job at an exclusive jewelry store.
Nora worked hard; her bosses noticed and soon promoted her to the pricier section of the store, where customers sat in cubicles to view expensive jewelry. Salespeople stayed with their customers, so each received undivided attention. It also meant that items could not be easily stolen. Since the sales staff could not leave their customers unattended, Nora’s job was to respond when called and quickly get new pieces of jewelry from storage. She excelled at her work and overheard her boss say she might become a permanent employee.
In the last week before Christmas, Nora had “one of those days.” She got splattered with mud on the way to work, and her supervisor made her change clothes before starting her shift. Then a coworker was sent home with a migraine, forcing Nora to rush the entire day. At 4:30, she was sent to fetch an expensive ring for a customer. Rushing back, she noticed a man in a tattered suit gazing at jewelry he could likely not afford.
After delivering the ring, Nora was sent for more jewelry. While rushing, her sleeve caught a tray of expensive jewelry, and six pricy solitaire diamond rings bounced across the floor. Though irritated, her boss was not angry; he knew the day was insanely busy for everyone. He took the jewelry she was carrying and instructed her to pick up the rings. She found five but could not locate the sixth. Only then did she notice the tattered man sneaking toward an exit and correctly assumed he had the missing ring.
She went to him and paused for a moment before politely saying, “This is my first job, and jobs are scarce, aren’t they?” He searched her face before replying with a smile, “Yes, they are, but I’m sure you’ll do quite well in yours.” There was more than a warm squeeze in their handshake, and Nora returned the sixth ring to its tray.
Those who frequently struggle often best understand the struggles of others. Perhaps that is why God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth this way. “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:7, NLT, bold is my emphasis)
As unimaginable as it may seem, when God sent Jesus to earth, he was born in a barn. His humble birth reveals to each of us that Jesus came to offer hope to everyone. His modest arrival on earth was no accident. Jesus became one of the least of us, so we know he identifies with us at our weakest point and wants us to join him in heaven one day.