Babies give insight at Christmas time

By Ellen Shuck

Whether we dote on babies or not, there's something about seeing, touching and bouncing an infant at Christmas. They are so soft, smell like baby power, usually, and are so cute and sweet. As you can tell I am a lover of the cuddly little people.

As I saw a baby on television the other night, I gained insight I had failed to see before. The story was about a baby that had been stolen from her mother, and later found by another woman. The beautiful and nice young woman, naturally fell in love with the child. As things turn out, often, the mother was finally found and reclaimed the baby.

As I followed the episode and watched the young woman giving up the beautiful baby girl, I thought of Jesus, since Christmas time is nearing. Of course, the lady keeping the infant was devastated. She had hoped to keep the little human -- so soft and precious.

My thoughts turned to the baby, Jesus, and how beautiful he must have been. I visualized that he looked like a normal baby in our era, tiny hands waving in the air, little feet and legs kicking. Filled with curiosity, He too wanted to sample new beginnings. He wanted to see what was out there. Baby Jesus, however, was both human and divine and here for a purpose.

We too are both human and divine. The Spirit of God lives within us.

I thought of the size of baby Jesus, not the exact measurements, because I'm unsure if He was a small or large infant, compared to others. However I pondered what this small beginning of a man accomplished. He was born into such humble circumstances that he was without comforts and necessities. Yet he went on to accomplish what no one else had ever done. He reached heights for which, no one else can ever claim credit. His name is more famous than any other has ever been.

The baby began so small, yet His stature grew to extraordinary heights. As I look today at the various babies born in today's world I picture what they will be like someday. What are their skills, passions and landscape within themselves like?

They too are here to serve a purpose for God -- a great purpose -- if they will just search for it. If they will be quiet and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to them, they too, will find their calling and find fulfillment through knowing they are contributing what God has intended they do. The ordinary infants we see every day are the people that will make a difference. They are large in God's estimation, and their own, too. What we often interpret, as a small gift of love, can change someone's life for the better. We, who may have been born into small and unpretentious circumstances, need not fear that we can never rise above and become something important. Scripture, Job 8:7 promises "Your beginnings will stem humble, so prosperous will your future be."

We can tell from the story of the Virgin birth of Jesus that one doesn't have to be "somebody" in the world to be important in Jesus's eyes.

If you want to apply the scenario of small beginnings becoming extraordinary, the example applies to whatever we do, whether it's in size of body and age, learning a new skill, or falling in love. It seems that the best endings begin with beginnings that take newly acquired knowledge, familiarity with someone before real love is birthed, and commitment to one's task, to see things through and look for the plan.

In Proverbs 16 it is written, "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose." So whether it's Advent, Christmas, or another time, all babies remind me of Jesus, new beginnings and purpose.