Are There Bethlehem Stars In Your World?
It was a treat to have Miss Michal sitting with me in church...she lives so far away, and there are never enough chances for this Grandma to snuggle her.
She was drawing quietly while I was trying hard NOT to apply the pastor’s words to my own life; words about priorities...and busy-ness...and the tyranny of the urgent...and stress. Michal tugged on my arm to show me her picture. I looked and whispered, "Oh, honey, that’s a beautiful flower!" Her chin dropped at my obvious lack of art appreciation as she said, "It isn’t a flower, Grandma; it’s the Bethlehem star." I looked again. Of course! There it was - so obvious!
And immediately I wondered how many other things that I miss because I’m not looking for them...things that could be blessings but get pushed aside because of the very things the pastor was talking about. I vowed to myself and Miss Michal and our Lord that I would diligently seek to find the Bethlehem stars of my world...that I would try to keep my priorities straight...that I would try to spend my energy on things of eternal value.
My prayer for you at this Christmas season is that you will do the same; that you, too, will see the babe in the manger as "the one who came to seek and to save that which was lost" (Matthew 19:10) and most of all, that you will receive the Bethlehem star in your life - the greatest gift of all - Jesus!
© 12/2001 Rosi Braatz