Carol Purves

So tomorrow is the day when the world tilted. After the birth of Jesus it would never be the same again. Just a crying little baby lying in a bed of straw, just a weary mum and step-dad, just a now resting donkey, just a few curious shepherds gazing in wonder and eventually just a few foreign kings coming to give homage.

But this ‘just’ day made the world BC and AD. The date 2020 and 2021 reflect this just birth., the salvation of the world began here. It was just another day, but what a day!!

According to Google snow was recorded in Jerusalem in December 1990, but none since then. So what do we make of ‘Snow had fallen, snow on snow.’

‘We three kings of Orient are bringing gifts, we travel afar.’ No-where in the Bible does it say there were three kings, just three gifts.

‘The cattle were lowing, the baby awakes , but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.’ No crying with all that straw sticking in Him! I’m sue that even Jesus, bawled His head off at times.

But hymn writers have to get their metres and rhymes right. The most important thing is that He was born, died for our sins and rose again.

I was asked this question by a swarthy skinned teenaged girl in a children’s home in east London. She was insecure,, knowing her skin was darker than some of her school mates. Maybe she had been bullied.

Being a pale skinned, blue lady of uncertain age, I was so pleased to be able to answer.

‘The colour of Jesus’ skin was much more like yours than mine. (that will upset some of our Christmas card makers!)

Many people are emotional vulnerable during this pandemic. Our spirits can change very easily. A kind word can lift our spirit; an unkind word can crush. Our emotions seem to be heightened.

So we can make sure we give the kind word, show encouragement and figuratively speaking offer a hand to help. Smiling behind a mask could be a waste, but a smile will reflect in our tone of voice. Oh, to be blessed with smiling eyes!

The Israelites waited decades and decades for the Messiah. Their prophets wrote and sang about Him; books were written about Him. Then when He came they missed Him. Their wait continues.

Maybe others are like that today. They do not recognise the Redeemer when He knocks on the door of their hearts. They miss the greatest opportunity of their lives. Perhaps this pandemic is their wake-up call.

How wonderful to now have a vaccine against this killer pandemic. But is there a danger we will now worship the vaccine and it’s life-saving powers and forget where true power lies?

But who gave the scientists their talents? Who provided the raw materials that were used? Who invented time that it could be spent on this break-through? The answers are God, God, God. Once again mankind is going to take the credit that is due to God. We must just beg God for forgiveness and not retribution.

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist wasn’t able to speak for nine months. It is nine months since we have been able to speak and mix freely with others. It is three-quarters of a year since we have been able to sing in church. I wonder how our voices will sound when we are again able to sing together.

Whatever restrictions I do praise God that we can still worship our Saviour. Our heart goes out to those who do not have freedom to worship. I pray we may all come out of this time more willing to sing His praises and more fervent in our worship.