We lay on our backs on the lawn in the stillness of the night. Stars winked and dazzled us as my big brother said, “Just wait and watch…”
“There! Did you see it?” he whispered, as if he would spoil the awe of it if he talked too loud.
“Yes! Yes! I saw it! Cool!” I gazed in wonder, waiting for another one.
That was decades ago. When my heart still held childish wonder and delight. Where has it gone? That cause for admiration or astonishment. That emotion of excitement at something new and remarkable.
That’s what I want in this Advent season. I want a renewal of wonder at the birth of Jesus. An excitement at this Gift as if I opened it for the first time. I want to unwrap the deeper layers of it. Not the surface of it with a hollow and empty celebration. I don’t want my heart to be passively content. I want to get excited about the Unspeakable Gift of Jesus coming down to us. I want to be amazed, to be still with awe, to awaken to the wonder of it all.
“The natural gift of wonder God gave us
as children was meant to be kept alive.
Instead we let wonder go to sleep.
We entered the typical dream state of most humans.
Why else does Jesus tell us today,
‘Stay awake!’…Advent says,
‘Wake up and realize the gifts
of love you have received.’”
(Rev. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., The Priest, Oct. ‘87, p.26)
Have we lost that gift of wonder at something so miraculous? Perhaps somewhere along the way, the harsh realities of life have snuffed it out? Has the wondrous miracle of Jesus’ birth become an ordinary yearly event? Are we too busy to ponder it prayerfully in our hearts?
I know we can never fully understand it on this earth, but I’m afraid my heart has become passive to delving deeper into the wonder of God coming down as Man. God was willing to come down and be born in human form, to suffer as a human the excruciating death of the cross for us. To die and rise again so we could be free forever from the punishment due to our sins.
That same Almighty God who has the power to create and hold those stars in the skies came down off His throne. That same God who gave a bright star to guide the wise men to Jesus the Savior humbled Himself to live among the lowly. He came down, down, down… Down to the depths of humanity. Not to be born in a fancy palace, but in a lowly stable, probably stinking from manure. To cry from hunger or pain as other babies do.
What king would ever come down to the level of suffering with the poor? This King would! Now that is great love! Unmatchable, unconditional, unfathomable love!
“For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
[His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor],
that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor,
so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).”
2 Corinthians 8:9 AMP
Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
He humbled Himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Phillipians 2:6-8 NLT
“But when the right time came, God sent
His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law,
so that He could adopt us as His very own children.”
Galatians 4:4-5 NLT
I know that in the midst of darkness and suffering, it’s hard to hang onto this hope. But let’s remember it’s the hopeless He has come for. Let’s try to retrieve our childish wonder for such an unimaginable miracle. May we recognize more clearly His astonishing favor for us. May our jaws drop in wonder at the boundless love He has for people filled with the filth of sin. For the broken souls who need His powerful cleansing, healing, and enlightening.
“When Love Came Down to Earth”
by Stuart Townend
sung by Kristyn Getty, Margaret Becker, Joanne Hogg
“When love came down to earth
And made His home with men
The hopeless found a hope
The sinner found a friend
Not to the powerful
But to the poor He came
And humble hungry hearts
Were satisfied again”
Dearest Lord Jesus, please give us and renew in us
a childish wonder at Your humble birth.
Thank You for loving us so deeply!
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Barbie – Weekend Whispers
Freed to Fly 
Trudy, Yes, I wonder if we’ve forgotten the childlike wonder of the Christ’s birth? Thank you for reminding us!
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Ellen. I have to keep reminding myself, too. May we have a Christmas centered around Jesus and the hope and love He brings so graciously! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy,
I just adored hearing about this memory from your childhood of star gazing with your brother! I can only say, tell us more! But how right you are about how easy it is for us as adults to lose the wonder of Christmas and the wonder of God. I think that’s why God leads us through winding paths at times to experience his wonder and renew our souls, if we let him. We have to open our hearts again to experience what we’ve lost and that is truly a journey that takes time and patience and faith. I’ve been on a journey like this for the past few years – -thank you for sharing yours – and more memories please! xoxo
LikeLike
Hi Valerie. Loving nature is something my big brother and I have in common. He was always showing me something. He is 6 years older than me, and I followed him around like a puppy dog. 🙂 That journey to that renewal of wonder can be quite a struggle, can’t it? To open our hearts again and again as we so often forget and close our eyes to what is right in front of us. I enjoy being on this journey with you as we delve deeper into these wonders. 🙂 May our patience and faith be renewed daily! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy, as I read your post, I kept thinking about the song “How Many Kings” by Down Here that has been going through my mind a lot lately. Then I got to the end and listened to the song you included … wow! I’ve never heard it before and it is beautiful! Childish wonder … yes, that’s what I want too this Christmas!
LikeLike
Lois, I had to look up that song you mentioned as I haven’t heard of it before. I love it! Thank you! I’m including the link here in case other readers may want to listen to it – https://youtu.be/iS0QOYsoGOU . I’m glad you were inspired by the song I included. I was wowed, too, when I found it. I’m so glad we are on this journey together of seeking childish wonder of the King who gave up His throne for us. May God fill you with His love and grace in a special way this season! Hugs!
LikeLike
I really appreciated your post. It’s true that as we get more familiar with the story of Jesus coming to earth it’s easy for it to lose its impact, but it is amazing when you really stop to think about it. I love this line: “I want to be amazed, to be still with awe, to awaken to the wonder of it all.”
LikeLike
Thank you, Carly. I’m so glad it meant something to you. Yes, it truly is amazing when we really stop to think about it. You say it well. Stop. Think. We really have to intentionally take time to do this, don’t we? And to open our hearts to the wonder of it all. May we be amazed, awed, and awakened to the story of Jesus’ birth! Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is hard sometimes to hang on to that wonder, especially when we’ve heard the story so many times before. I’m reading Paul David Tripp’s book, “Awe” and it’s helping with recapturing the wonder of the things that God has done and continues to do. So this post is great timing for me! Thanks Trudy!
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Lisa. That sounds like a great book. I just looked it up on Amazon, and in the review it said something about how it opens our eyes afresh to the glory of God’s love, grace, and power. I’m so glad it’s helping you to recapture the wonder of what God has done and what He continues to do. May we together be in awe of His glory and generous gift of love, hope, and peace! Hugs!
LikeLike
Your beautiful words are a great parallel to mine that I wrote this week. To sit in wonder at anything is not something I take the time for but what if we did? I also want to marvel in wonder at the gift we receive in Jesus and celebrate on Christmas. Such a lovely post! Blessings!
LikeLike
Thank you, Mary. We can never marvel in wonder enough at the unspeakable Gift of Jesus, can we? May God give us the gift of wonder at the marvelous love He has brought to us! Hugs!
LikeLike
Trudy,
Yes, I’m with you….Lord, help us to regain our sense of wonder at the magnitude of what happened at your birth…what love for you to become poor so we might become rich in your love and mercy…Thanks so much, my friend 🙂
LikeLike
Amen, Dolly. It’s so amazing that the Almighty and Glorious King would reach down so far to us to raise us up. A beautiful prayer that I will pray with you! I love being on this journey of regaining our wonder together. Hugs!
LikeLike
“May we recognize more clearly His astonishing favor for us.” This is my heart’s desire too! I love the versions of the verses you posted – very powerful. Thank you, Trudy. Blessings and Hugs to you!
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Michelle. I’m so glad we’re on this journey together of desiring to go deeper into the astonishing favor God has towards us. Blessings and hugs to you, too! May God give us our heart’s desire!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trudi 🙂 what a beautiful and moving post. Thank you!! xo
LikeLike
Thank you, Susie. I’m glad it moved you. Isn’t God’s love just so amazing? May we find rest and peace in it! Hugs!
LikeLike
“What hope, what help, what love..” yes, indeed! And as we come like a child with awe and wonder in our hearts, it hits us afresh what God has done. Oh thank you, Trudy, for awakening and renewing that desire within with all you have shared here! May your Advent season continue to bring amazement and deep heart gratitude. Blessings and hugs to you, my friend. x ❤
PS:I'd love to hear more anecdotes/stories too. 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Joy. I’m so grateful your desire was awakened and renewed. Thank you for your prayers and blessings and hugs. 🙂 Praying we may together be amazed and in awe of what God has done for us! Hugs!
LikeLike
Hi Trudy! 🙂
This made me think of the song Wonder by Amanda Cook of Bethel. She sings “may we never lose our wonder… ” a great song to just sit quietly and let it soak into your spirit.
This time of year it’s so easy to lose sight of what it’s really all about because we have so many things vying for our attention. Thank you for always providing a word in due season.
(((HUGS)))
LikeLike
I love the song, Krista! Thank you for sharing it. It’s like a calm reflection and like you said, one “to just sit quietly and let it soak into your spirit.” For readers who would like to listen – https://youtu.be/mHi2fJum0Pg . I’m praying as in the song – “Wide eyed and mystified, may we be just like a child, staring at the beauty of our King.” Amen! Hugs!
LikeLike
I had many Christmas eve nights staring into the sky from my bedroom window, and looking up at the Star. I was sure this was the Christmas Star that God brought out on every Christmas eve to remind us of the Saviours birth. Just thinking about it brings the child-like wonder back into my spirit. Thank you for reminding me to keep the Wonder in Christmas just by looking up to the Light.
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Lynn. Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s such a wonder that God uses a Star to lead us to Jesus, isn’t it? May we keep looking up to the Light with wonder and awe of all He’s done for us! Hugs!
LikeLike