The message of “Joy to the World” is full of promise and the real reason for the joy in this season, the reason that never goes away. Christ was born! God had come to save his people. His promises proved faithful and true.

Becoming a mother has been one of my deepest desires and it has yet to be fulfilled. I am still waiting. But this waiting and longing also serves as an invitation to seek our true desire: Jesus. I have been given the opportunity to draw near to God (James 4:8) instead of drawing back in my pain and frustration. Longing is a gift that enables me to reach out to God and show Him what is in my heart.

The appeal of becoming someone else for a time is a popular theme in fiction. Think of Cinderella, The Prince and the Pauper and The Parent Trap, where the protagonist either trades places with another or transforms into a different version of themselves. Most of the time, the result is a deeper understanding or a betterment of circumstances.

When Jesus was born, He chose to exchange His holy divinity for our humble humanity. He most certainly did not improve his circumstances; in fact, He willingly took on the limitations and pain of our human experience. He experienced hunger, exhaustion, betrayal, suffering, grief and all forms of temptation.

The three kings were likely highly esteemed in their culture, so to bring precious gifts to a baby was a sacrifice of their image. As we come to terms with our own sin, we come face to face with the reality that we are broken and in need of a gift — the gift Jesus gave to us on the cross.

The lyrics in this carol describe that Jesus was born “On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.”  And indeed, my third time at it, I knew exactly how cold and deep the nights with a newborn could feel.  But that year, with our daughter, something shifted.