Getting into the Christmas Spirit

Yesterday, on the way to cake the calves, I had the radio blasting Christmas in the Country with Bob Kingsley because, honestly, I haven’t really been “in the Christmas spirit” yet this year. I think the stress of Christmas shopping and the commercialization of the holiday sort of put a damper on my mood. At any rate, I had the radio blaring Christmas music to help me get in the spirit.

Anyway, as the last of the calves were gathering and I was just about ready to drop the chute to feed the hangry mob, the song Mary Did You Know (by Mark Lowry) came over the airwaves.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.

And there I sat – frozen.

I could not get out to drop the chute to feed. I could not hear what the kids were playing in the backseat. I could not move… I simply sat – still as could be with tears welling up in my eyes, overwhelmed with emotion as this huge sense of gratitude rushed over me.

It was gratitude for the gift of a Savior, willing to die so that we could have everlasting life, that God gave us on that very first Christmas that rendered me teary eyed and unable to move. And not only that, but I was also overwhelmed by Mary herself. “This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.” Could you imagine what that must have been like being hand-picked by God for the important responsibility of giving birth to the Savior – your Savior?

I could not.

I am so astounded and inspired by her faithfulness in His plan that I welled up listening to just about every song after that. And I am not ashamed to admit that I welled up again while writing this.

Isn’t it simply amazing how these little miracles happen – how God gives us just what we need when we need it? The timely playing of that song was just what I needed to forget about everything else, relish in the true reason for the season, and get me in the Christmas Spirit.