Open arms....

Open arms....

For as long as I can remember, Christmas has been celebrated with family...it has been a fun time, laughter, visiting, hugs all around...I remember that more than any gift given or received ...even when our family knew that time was short...we had fun times...bringing food, preparing it, helping one another, playing games, opening presents, exclamations...smiles, babies, children...those are the memories of Christmas for me...

Looking back at family pictures, that is what I see,....the love, the open arms....all around....not there wasn't  hard times, attitudes or animosity...or some undercurrents at times over the years...nothing is perfect...but at the beginning and end, there were hugs, open arms...

Christmas is about Christ and his open arm invitation for everlasting life..God's welcome...His gift ......and it is a memorable one.....not to be forgotten over time...

Picturing open arms In the Bible,
The baby, Jesus,lifting up his arms to be held and holding on to his parents...
The child, Jesus, holding out arms for a toy or a hug from his parents...talking to the teachers in the temple, gesturing with his words...

Later, teaching, gesturing again with his arms....touching others..holding those children and blessing them...

And finally, the cross, arms spread wide....welcoming those around him, the thief, the crowd..longing to hold his mother another time, but instead handing her over to the care of another....

Arms spread wide...opening up for the sin of the world to be placed upon His shoulders, soul....

His body, taken down, arms wrapped ...

The meeting In the garden, others holding Him...

The room with the disciples, again gesturing for Thomas to see the wounds, even that gesture opens up the arms, welcoming again to believe...

I have that vision when loved ones leave this sphere and join the heavenly one...open arms, welcoming...

Christmas, welcoming, open arms, hugs...words of encouragement, smiles....those are memories...those are the real gifts....

Thank YOU, for the open arms of love....the real gift of Christmas .....

Deuteronomy 33:27a
The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; ...

Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust.

Mark 9:35-37
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Mark 10:16
And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

I love you and miss you, but know that you were welcomed with open arms....