The time in between Christmas and New Years Day seem to last forever. You can’t remember which day it is because every day feels like a Saturday, or you can’t remember how you function when you were working. I like order and structure, which is why I like working(for the most part) five days a week. Yes, disarray is good, but permanent chaos not so good.
In the past, Christmas wasn’t a happy period of time for me. Normally, I felt sad leading up to Christmas and especially on Christmas Day. It was like coming down from a drugged induced high. I just wanted to be alone, instead of trying to be happy when I didn’t want to be. After the presents were opened, and all that was left was wrapping paper to stuff in the garbage bags. I would think; is that all there is to this? I wanted more. However, I have always loved Christmas Eve, there’s an innocence and mystery that without fail I would always sense. On this day, my sister and I were allowed to open one small gift, provided our parents agreed with out choice. One year in particular, our parents introduced us to a small calico kitten (Cricket) that had been living with our Bubi[for a few weeks] who lived next door to us. Her two front paws were white, which made it look like she had mittens on, and in her case they really did look like mittens because on both paws she possessed an extra claw. She was a gift that kept on giving the entire time we had her.
Once Christmas Eve had passed, I hoped each year that somehow I would feel different about Christmas Day, but truth be known, I had no idea why we celebrated the day. I didn’t know it was about the Christ child being born in the hearts of men. I didn’t know that it wasn’t about the amount of gifts you received, in fact, I have found the less the gifts I am given, the better it is for me. Just three items, it was all Jesus received.
It wasn’t until after my conversion that my experience of Christmas began transform into something that resembled what I think my heart is designed for. We three Kings is my favourite Christmas song that normally isn’t played until after the New Year. I like the significance of the gifts that the Wise Men bestow upon the Christ Child. They weren’t last-minute ideas, much thought was obviously given because what do you bring when all you have to go on is a star in the dark sky to guide you? Yes there was prophecy, but still the magi were prepared.
We three kings of Orient are
bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
The innocence and mystery that Christmas Eve brings for me, is brought back with the Magi’s journey. This star they follow is mysterious to them, yet they(the magi’s’) and I continue to stumble after it, determined to find out where it’s headed.
In his quest for knowledge about this king Herod informs his visitors that he too wants to worship, and asks the Magi to come back to tell him where this king is. It appears that the Wise Men are unaware of Herod’s history for they ask him, ‘Where is he who has born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come worship him.’ Matthews 2:2
For a few years, I worked as an Aromatherapist, and I had the opportunity to used Myrrh and Frankincense regularly as essentials oils in blends that I used on clients. Both oils are base oils and are used mainly for conditions that are chronic in nature.
Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
over us all reign.
O Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on nigh.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Whenever I hear this song, I am reminded that I am following a Star in the dark of night, it is shrouded in royal beauty bright. It’s the journey that He has led us on, not the destination that is the cause of our love, it is the journey of the Magi not knowing where the star was leading them, but believing leads to Him – the Christ Child in the manager.
The Broken Tea Cup 