Identification

 

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9.

Well, I’m a day late. I try to blog every Monday and Thursday, mainly as a discipline for myself. Christmas really got me muddled up this week, about which day was which. Now it’s Friday, Christmas Eve and I haven’t finished with Thursday yet! Still, the above text is true whatever day it is, and brings to mind a story.

One cold winter, a young boy looked out of his window watching the snow and wind rage outside. The yard lamp illuminated the forecourt to the barn, and in its light he saw a number of birds flying in the snow. “It looks as though they need shelter,” he thought to himself, and wondered how he could help them.

He had an idea. The barn was large, with plenty of places for birds to perch in the rafters. “I’ll go and open the barn doors so they can take shelter there.” He dressed for the cold, went outside and opened the barn doors. But to his disappointment, the birds continued to fly about in the wind and snow.

He ran into the yard, waving his arms, trying to shepherd the birds into the barn. But the birds flew more wildly, scared by this young human and his antics. Finally, after several minutes of frantic waving, he gave up, and trudged disconsolately back into the house. He settled in the window once more, watching the birds’ aimless flying.

His father came and sat beside him, aware of his young son’s concern for the birds. “Son,” he said, “There’s only one way you could help the birds. You would have to become a bird yourself. Only then could you lead them to shelter.”

The story reminds us of He who became one of us in Jesus, so He could lead us to safety.

Have a very blessed Christmas.