Merry Christmas!
Over the last few weeks as Christmas has approached, I have found myself amazed as I ponder the truth behind what we celebrate. One night, I was called in to help with a delivery in which the baby was coming out the wrong way, feet first instead of head. It wasn’t her first baby, thankfully, and she was close to delivering. I called in the team to be ready for a C-section, but she wanted to try for a vaginal delivery, so I said that we could try. After pushing for a while, we hadn’t made much progress so I went over to the Operating Theater to get the team ready. A nurse came running over a minute later saying that the baby was part of the way out. I ran back to the delivery room to see most of baby visible with the head still yet to be delivered. My heart raced as I went to help the midwife and I prayed a quick prayer. With the next push, the baby’s head delivered. While he was initially a little stunned, he soon gave a big cry.
Coming into this world can be a harrowing process, especially when you do not have the help or the resources that you need. And even after you arrive, there are a lot of things that can happen in the first few days. A significant part of my work here is trying to keep mothers and babies safe and healthy. And yet, God chose to enter the world this way-through pain and blood and uncertainty into abject poverty.
The Magnificat, or Mary’s Song in Luke 1, has resonated with my heart this year.
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been
mindful
of
the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the
Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy
is his name.
50 His mercy extends to
those who fear him,
from
generation to generation.
51 He has performed
mighty deeds with his arm;
he
has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down
rulers from their thrones
but
has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the
hungry with good things
but
has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his
servant Israel,
remembering
to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his
descendants forever,
just
as he promised our ancestors.”
God, through the manner in which He gave His Son, has revealed to us the way He operates in the world. He has scattered the proud and sent the rich away empty, but he has lifted up the humble and filled the hungry with good things.
One of my favorite parts of Christmas here at Kudjip is the nativity play put on by the children at the church. They have a moment at the end of the play where all the shepherds, wisemen and extras come to where Joseph and Mary are with Jesus in the stable. But they don’t just walk in to see Jesus and finish up the play. They come dancing through the church with joy and a simplicity of heart. Every time I feel my heart swelling like the grinch and tears come to my eyes at this earnest response to Jesus.
May you be able to meet Jesus with joy and simplicity of heart this Christmas.
God's work, Daniel! Godspeed and happy holidays.
ReplyDeleteMahmoud
Thank you, Daniel! We just read your words. I (Ruthie) have been meditating on Mary’s song, too. I think you’d like a song based on it: The Canticle of Turning, by Rory Cooney.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and The Church where you are! The humility of God is stunning.
Love, Ruthie and Vince
Hi friend!
ReplyDeleteI have been amazed for the video of Christmas at Kudjip! The children singing with candles, shepherds and wisemen dancing with simplicity of heart and the admirable unity and joy of the congregation… I believe that every day we should live with that joy knowing that Christ shines in our hearts! :)
A part of my work in the Foundation Justicia y Valor de Mujer (Justice and Value of Woman) is strengthen the role of the woman in the family and in the society through training workshops aimed at women, staff of organizations and ministry leaders.
After many prayers, God opened a wonderful door to serve through teaching and training in New Zealand and Kudjip, Papa New Guinea, I am so excited to meet the precious children, women, families, community and all the incredible team of missionaries!! :) Please, prayers for the 2 mission trips coming up soon!
I look upon all the world as my parish, as said John Wesley.
Merry Christmas Daniel!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your Christmas joy with us! Blessings on you and on all of the people you serve! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWhat a moving clip of dancing and celebrating Jesus. I think that is much more accurate than Silent Night! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Daniel.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, my eyes teared a bit seeing the joyous dance of the children. What a happy holy scene! I was touched by your story of the birth. So much of our culture sanitizes the birth in a stable and a lot of our cultural celebrations point to riches in things, not the love of a child born who would show us how to love. You have sometimes difficult experiences in your new home, yet much makes you a very wealthy man and a good example of our Christ's love. May 2025 hold many beautiful blessings for you and your people! Love, Betty
ReplyDelete