So Be Good for Goodness Sake!

As I begin to collect my thoughts for this article, I am struggling to come up with something different to say about Christmas--something that hasn't already been said--or at least a different way of saying the things that are always said. After all, there are only so many ways one can say that this is the time of the year we have set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We all already know that He was born in the obscure city of Bethlehem of Judea. Wow! How else can one say that? It kinda' reminds me of what I say about myself: I was born in the obscure city of Butler, Georgia! How good can it get?

We also know that he was born of a virgin (Mary) because God had already predestined for His conception to be immaculate. For some reason, however, He didn't seem to be quite so concerned about His birth because He arranged (prearranged) for it to take place in a not-so-immaculate; albeit, well-perfumed barn, amongst cow manure and horse urine because there was no room for Him to be born in the nice, clean, Holiday (pun intended) Inn, amongst freshly laundered, jasmine-smelling sheets.

Furthermore, we all know that God ordered one of His favorite and brightest stars to conveniently present herself just above Jesus' delivery room, and, surely, we all know that Mary had Joseph scurrying to place hundreds of green and red and white flashing lights around the barn windows, on the roof, even hanging from the eves, not to mention, all around the yard and in the shrubbery. Probably the funniest sight of all was Joseph's trying to attach the huge, inflatable Santa Clause on the top of the barn chimney, so as to make him appear to be "on his way down," with a sack filled with toys for the New Born!

To be sure, the three Wise Men couldn't possibly have missed their cue to see Him, so off they went in a cloud of dust, twelve camel-legs a flying in every direction, and bringing of all things more smelly perfumes (as if there were not already enough with the omnipresent "Eau de Barn Toilett'), which probably did a better job of stopping up His nose than elimating the various odors. (Have you noticed that the Bible never mentions Jesus wearing perfume? Now you know why--He couldn't stand the stuff!) I am guessing that Mary offered most of this smelly stuff back to the Wise Men, hoping they would take the hint and wear it themselves!

Everyone knows that Joseph was probably more-than-a-bit embarassed by this entire thing, expecially, in de-light of the fact that he and mary had not yet "known" each other, except, of course, for the few times he persuaded her to do a little "petting" on the back of some smelly camel in the dark of night, where no one could see them, probably at the local outdoor movie house, pretending to be watching "The Exodus." There is not wonder that His birth was "virgin!"

Anyway, somewhere, off in the distance, God stood with His pipe frimly held between His teeth and His huge arms folded upon His gigantic chest, watching what He had already previewed and approved from the foundation of the world; when, unable to stand it any longer, He removed his pipe and laughed and laughed and laughed, not because what He saw was funny, but because He is just that kind of God! He gets so much pleasure out of watching His children celebrate the birth of His Son, and the more childish, the better, at least for Him!

I thought I would remind you of what you already know: He really does love YOU! And by the way and for all the world to hear--MERRY CHRISTMAS!