by Eddie Lyons
My wife’s favorite Christmas memory occurred the year our youngest son, James, was born. He was born that summer and we were shocked to hear he had Down syndrome. It had been a tough five months. What would life be like for this little boy of ours? How would people accept him? How do we face the future with so much uncertainty? We entered a dark season of grief, confusion, and pain.
When Christmas rolled around someone from our kids’ school asked if we would let James play the role of Jesus in the Christmas program. Just them asking was a thrill. We did not know what our baby would ever be able to do, but this Christmas he could play Jesus. You can’t have a more meaningful part than that.
The night of the program Mary and Joseph, while holding baby James, began to sing. We found ourselves in tears as we listened to the lyrics:
All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don’t see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what’s best for us
His ways are not our ownGod is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When you don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His heart
You know, that is the message of Christmas. God’s good intention toward us is clearly demonstrated at Christmas.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32