The Wonderful One

A child has been born for us;
    a son has been given to us.
    The responsibility of complete dominion
    will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be:
    The Wonderful One!…. (Isaiah 9:6 The Passion Translation)

I remember the year when Christmas lost its wonder. I was in the sixth grade, living in the crazy in-between years that transitioned me from childhood to becoming an adult. My dad had recently come home from a year’s assignment in Vietnam and there was a sense of dis-ease in the atmosphere of our home. As an adult I now realize, that he was suffering from PTSD that manifested in bouts of anger, anxiety, and a general lack of patience with us kids. That year Christmas morning felt different. There were only a few gifts for each of us under the tree, but that was not unusual for us. We never thought slighted or left out about those kinds of things. My dad’s military income did not allow for extravagance, but we never felt that we lacked anything important. I give my mom credit for that. She always had a positive attitude about our military life and viewed our frequent moves and continual readjustments as an exciting challenge.

No, it wasn’t the lack of gifts that caused my disappointment that Christmas, but rather the gifts themselves. I had outgrown my love for toys and trinkets. While I still loved dolls, ( I still do!) I think my very practical mom realized there were other things I needed more. So, that year my gifts included a new purse, a grown up brush and comb set, and a few miscellaneous personal things that an almost-teenager would need for grooming. When the gifts were all opened, I arranged them under the tree, hoping they would look more festive and inviting under the glow of the Christmas lights. I needed them to give back the wonder. I needed them to bring normalcy to my heart that was feeling the uneasiness in our home. But, to no avail. Something inside had shifted. The wonder was not there…and even as a 12 year old, I knew it.

Things are different now. My perspective on life is different. The years brought healing and a sense of wholeness back to our family. I am much older, and hopefully, much wiser. The years have taught me lessons on grabbing the beauty of life when and where I can. I am learning that Christmas (and life) can be whatever I make it and it all depends on my attitude and my faith in God. Not, in the circumstances around me.

If there has ever been a year to challenge that resolve, 2020 has been that year. We have all felt loss and many are struggling to feel the wonder of the Season. In this world of conflict and pain, many have lost the wonder of the miracles around us every day. Some have prayed, seemingly finding no answers. Many are faced with hopelessness, and fear grips the hearts of those who can’t even find the words to articulate the deep sadness they are grappling with.

Today I present a gift to you. A reminder of the miraculous Baby who came on that first Christmas night to a dark, disappointing world. The man Christ Jesus. The Wonderful One.

In the Hebrew, the word wonderful is taken from the root word, pele, which means miracle. So, in that sense, His name means miracle – His birth, His life, His death, His redemptive plan for man. Miracles. Everyone of them.

Just the announcement of His birth, caused a heavenly celebration of wonder as angels danced across the sky and shepherds looked on with amazement. At his birth, miracles were sprinkled across the sky like golden glitter as the Christmas Star proudly led the way of the wise men. The face of a virgin girl glowed with a heavenly blush as she looked upon the face of God – the Wonderful One – the God-Man who would save His people. There was no room for doubt and fear in that lowly stable that night. A dream-filled little mother, a divine child, angels resplendent with glory. The Wonderful Miracle had come.

I think I see that same Christmas glow when I look in the face of an innocent child as she dances and sings with total abandon. Eyes sparkling with hope, wonder spilling out as she sees the sparkle of the Christmas tree, sure that each brightly wrapped gift holds a box of rapturous joy just waiting to be unwrapped.

I wonder if that is why Jesus said we should all come to Hm as a little child. Maybe, it is because life in our temporary earth-home tends to rob us of wonder as the years go by. We tend to become jaded with each disappointment. Hope wanes as we wait for brighter days that seem to be put “on hold.” We can forget that He came as The Wonderful One. Full of wonder. Full of miracles.

I encourage you, today, to look at your world through the eyes of an expectant child. Let your heart sing again with joy because of the miracle of your salvation. Let wonder fill your soul as you remind yourself of a loving God who chose you. Let hope come alive as you capture the hope that dispels the darkness around you. Expect miracles. See miracles. They are all around us. Our grown-up eyes have just become dim.

Lord, give me the eyes of a child. Let me see your heart of love in the everyday miracles that are all around me. Let me dance with anticipation of all you are about to do in my life. Let my senses come alive with awe of who You are. Don’t let me explain away the supernatural miracle of my life with You. Instead , let me live enchanted by your person, The Wonderful One.

This is a song I love. Maybe you will too.

Just Like A Child, Andy Parks. https://youtu.be/7QxTntAiuDU

Looking for wonderful miracles today. You are loved. gb