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 A collective reflection on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love Wednesday, December 18, 2024 |
Joy and Quiet Nudges Luke 2:8-20 On a cold winter evening, I got a call from my neighbors asking for help. A mama sheep was distressed; she needed help bringing her babies into the world. This mama did not look like the white fluffy sheep in kids’ books. She was dark brown, smelly, and dirty. Gail and Tom coached me; before you know it, I was helping deliver her three babies and cleaned and warmed them up. Seeing these cute little lambs with such long legs enter this world was amazing. I learned that night that being a shepherd is physical, dirty, and demanding work. The Israelites classified shepherds as an unclean profession with low social and economic status. I love that God sent an angel to lowly shepherds to tell them that the Savior of the world was being born and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will bring great joy for all the people.” The angel invited the shepherds to go and meet the baby Messiah. I loved how the shepherds responded to this invitation with joy. They jumped into action, saying, “Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about it. They hurried to the village.”. This wasn’t a simple invitation to respond to because they had to get all the sheep moving, which isn’t an easy task. When they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, Jesus, they were so excited and from this day forward, they told everyone about it, “glorifying and praising God for everything they had seen and heard.” They pursued this invitation to joy. Their joy inspired and amazed others, including Mary! Oh, how I would love it if an angel came to me and invited me to joy all day, every day, but that is not how it works for me. Instead, the Holy Spirit invites me to joy through quiet nudges. Here are some joy invitations I have heard and seen: A family member pops into my mind, and I am grateful for their presence in my life. I am nudged to text them to tell them what they mean to me. When the house is quiet in the evening, I am nudged to sit by the tree and write to God about my thoughts and feelings about the day. As I rush through Target, a child makes eye contact with me. The nudge is to smile and connect with her and her mom. By Michelle Pemberton PRAYER FOR TODAY God, we thank you for sending us your son, Jesus. Thank you for being a God who is speaking all of the time. In the busyness of this season, help us hear and see your joy invitations around us all the time. Help us be like the shepherds and listen to and act on these invitations/nudges to joy! Then, remind us to share with others the joy we have experienced! Amen. |
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