December 20: Humility

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.  - Luke 2:7

The irony is thicker than any eggnog that ever got poured. We agonize, for instance, over which tree to bring into the house and how best to adorn it because of course, we can not settle when it comes to the details of how we celebrate. Celebrate what? The time a weary mother settled regarding the matter of her newborn son’s first crib.

The details of the Nativity account all underscore the humility into which the Christ child was born, and not with embarrassment or apology. This was how it was supposed to be. How it had to be.

We are told in James 4:10 to “humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” And G.K. Chesterton quips that the reason that angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly.

When you bake without a leavening agent you don’t get a loaf of bread; you get a brick of something featuring all of the bread’s ingredients without any of its edibility. The same goes for celebrating the season. Unless you have a leavening agent, something that will make it rise, the inclusion of all the other ingredients will do you no good.
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Humility is that leavening agent that makes the whole season rise. When we refuse to take gifts, our preparations, our traditions, our menus, and ourselves too seriously and are content to celebrate in humility the humility of that celebration we find a great weight lifted.
Don’t ever try to do Christmas without first working some humility into the whole batch.
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Make frozen whipped cream hearts for your hot chocolate.
Mix an 8 oz tub of whipped cream with ¼ cup of water, whisk together until thoroughly blended. Line a shallow dish or pan with parchment paper and spread the whipped cream mix out on the parchment paper at least a ½ inch thick. Freeze overnight. Cut with cookie cutters and transfer to chilled, parchment lined container and return to freezer for 15 minutes or until use. You can also add shaved chocolate, sugar, or sprinkles to the top of the whipped cream mixture prior to freezing.

Written by: Joel Tate

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