Tip of My Iceberg

You might think of it as a familial tug-of-war.

Tiffany, number five child, married Ramsay a year and a half ago. They live and work in Miami at Florida International University. Only four hours from where we live. They’re protected from a constant barrage of parental visits because of that drive. Yet it gives them the freedom to come home for holidays and special events. (Read “really special events.” Not “Mom needs daughter time NOW.)

What adds interest to the equation is that Ramsay’s parents live in the same city as we do. About four miles away. Which lends itself naturally to a few questions.

Where will they stay when they come home? We both want them. Having his and hers family times-where Rams stays with his folks and Tif stays with us-is unacceptable and not very fun.

How do they divide the time between families? Everyone wants a bigger piece of them. Which in most instances isn’t a difficult issue.

Unless it’s a major holiday. Like Christmas.

What traditions are non-negotiable in each family so they can maximize their time at each house?

Everyone wants them at everything. (We’re talking really fun people here!)

I’m sure they feel pulled in every direction. Christmas Eve at our house. Christmas Adam at his house. (I’ve recently discovered this quirky partial holiday. If Eve has a Christmas gig, Adam must as well. His is the day before Christmas Eve. After all, he was created first.) Both places Christmas morning.

They are two very gracious people. Rather than call us all crazy, they work at trying to satisfy everyone.

I don’t think I’d be that nice.

Jesus didn’t have that kind of family issues. But everyone still wanted a piece of Him.

The Jewish people wanted Him to be a valiant hero to lead them to freedom from the Romans and all the other folks who wanted to see them put in their place.

Herod didn’t want Him to be a threat to his own shaky kingdom.

The Pharisees wanted Him to be a religious ruler who would follow laws and traditions to a T.

What they got wasn’t what they expected.

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David. And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’”  Luke 2:9-12

The God of heaven came to earth to be born in a filthy stable. Born among animals because no room could be found for Him anywhere. The King of Kings had no fanfare. No crowd of well wishers. No glamorous nursery.

He left the glory of heaven for the ignominy of being a baby needing His teenage mom.

Because of His love for us.

We all need Him.

The question is: How much do you want Him?

First picture courtesy of coppellstudentmedia.com.

Second picture courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org.