Turning on the news lately rattles me. I find I'm guarding more than ever what I take in and read about the world today because it often makes my heart quicken and I become overwhelmed by all that must be done to mend hearts and nations and wounds. 

Christmas is such a wonderful celebration and often our memories are associated with music. Would you agree? Many of us are familiar with the Christmas song, "Mary, Did You Know?" As the lyrics take us on a journey from Bethlehem to Calvary, we gain thoughts on the life of Jesus. But in our role as mothers, maybe you're like me and wish you could just sit down and have a heart-to-heart with Mary, the mother of God's Son.

I wonder how Mary processed the news the angel brought.

We’re operating on two different levels today, aren’t we?

Genuine smiles light our faces. We’re surrounded by glittering trees, glowing candles, precious people, and mouth-watering food.

We’re grateful. Full of joy and goodwill.

But…

There’s something deeper. The pain of loss. A heartache. The something that hurts or haunts. The reminder that peace on earth is not yet reality.

Driving through the maze of crowds, and bumper to bumper traffic during the Christmas holidays was a true test of my mama patience. I had an agenda and evidently the world did not know what it was because everything was slow on this particular day.

My boy’s chatter, loud noises and vying for attention was particularly irritating when I was stuck in a traffic jam with time ticking away. 

 “Mama, he hit me.”

“No I didn’t, I just tapped him.”

“You did not, you hit me!”

Finally, we got off the freeway, made it to the main intersection of the mall I was seeking, when Joel piped up, “Mama, look at the poor man with one leg and one crutch. He has a sign that says ‘I’m hungry!’. Don’t you think since it is Christmas, we should stop and get him something to eat?”