Celebrate a baby

“For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” Philippians 1:19 NIV

We have the birth of a baby to celebrate this week. Our son turns 18 and no I cannot believe he is that old. Our daughter just sort of started praying for a brother. She did not tell us about it until she brought home a Mother’s Day project from school. Instead of two thumb print flowers, it had three. We were confused until she shared her prayer request with us. She wanted to give her mom a baby for Mother’s Day, God agreed. We told them Mary was pregnant on Mother’s Day.

News of a baby makes people celebrate. The birth of a baby makes people celebrate even more, but it changes everything. Your house gets more cluttered. Crying is loud. It is amazing how much volume comes out of such a small person. It is also amazing how many other things come out of a baby as well, if you know what I mean. Parents get tired. Korbin’s brain would not let him sleep. I wouldn’t trade them for the world, but they are a lot of work.

My wife had a habit of waiting until she was in full on labor before she ever told me to start the car. That day she had been in labor all morning but didn’t tell anyone. She still showed up for work at the elementary school across the street from our house. When I got home, she was downstairs and having a contraction. I did not think we were going to get her up the stairs.

On the way to the hospital, I called a friend of mine to pick up the girls. Mary had other ideas because Korbin was born so soon after we arrived at the hospital that I actually beat him to the school. We stood together in the hallway as Jordyn came out of her room. She knew as soon as she saw me. Aly’s class came out next. The hallway filled with kids and teachers who all knew Mary and who had all seen her at work like two hours before. The hallway went crazy.

The girls started running up and down the hall “Mom had the baby!” Kids started yelling “Mrs. Claiborn had the baby!” The scene was wild and loud and I stood there with my friend watching the celebration of our new baby. Aly was 6 years old and probably about as tall as she is at 24. At one point she stopped running and looked straight up with arms lifted up to heaven and said “Hallelujah!” In a moment of chaos, a moment of pure worship happened. It is one of the best memories of my life. We now await the birth of her first baby, a daughter. There will be celebration.

I had a day on the road today and I think of odd things, but have you ever wondered what Jesus was like as a baby? I mean He is our Savior but was human. He needed diapers. He may have not been a good sleeper. His parents were probably tired. Was He a picky eater? Did Joseph run around telling people about his son? Did Joseph help around the house?

I remember as a kid thinking the scene in the manger was neat and tidy and that somehow everyone was there like at a formal ceremony. It wasn’t. The Maji, or wise men we all have heard about did not find Jesus for about two years. By then, He was not in the manger anymore. He was at home. I kind of wonder if they were all serious or were they playing with Him, sort of like a fun uncle? I think they did. They celebrated. They had a baby in the house.

Our son is one of the more fascinating people I know, but I am not confusing him with Jesus. In this case, the celebration may be more subdued than the event indicates, but don’t be misled – the prayers of a six-year-old were answered. We have a miracle in our house.

Christmas celebrates a miracle, the birth of Jesus. I think worship is certainly appropriate, but sometimes we forget that there should be a celebration. We have the son.

We praise and we worship, but do you think we make either too formal?

Like me, do you sometimes miss the concept that our Savior was actually human like us?

Challenge: Worship. Study. Pray. Accept. But don’t forget to throw your hands up to the heavens to celebrate.

Rick Claiborn