A Christmas Story

If we leave Jesus in the manger, a sweet little baby in a nativity play, then there is no hope to be found there for the desperate. 

But Jesus did not remain a baby. He grew up and showed the world that He had come to reveal to us the heart of God.

The message of Christmas is this: no matter what you are going through, no matter what trouble or pain confronts you, you are not alone.

God has heard the cry of your heart, and sent you a deliverer.

The Saviour is born – God is with us.

Marie reminds us of God, and offers an alternate picture to the traditional pretty one.

She is a beautiful young mother whose second child, Dean, is autistic. This means he is locked in a world that seldom makes sense to him. 

Some noises and sensations cause him great distress, while other things, like cards and television jingles, hold great fascination.

He doesn’t speak, and is unable to express his emotions.

Occasionally Dean goes berserk, letting out all the frustrations he feels over life.

He lashes out, kicking and screaming, biting and punching. During these episodes, Marie holds him, allowing him to rain blows upon her until she can restrain and calm him.

As she talks about one such time, and shows the teeth marks in her arm, she says,

“I’m his mother; I love him. I have to put up with this otherwise he would hurt himself. Of course he doesn’t understand, and thinks that I am trying to hurt him. But I persist in the hope that one day he’ll come to understand my love for him. Maybe one day he will call me 'Mummy'”.

Often in our troubles and suffering we call out to God, blaming Him for our pain and sorrow.

When we do, we are like Dean, who struggles in his mother’s arms without understanding her love. 

Yet God waits patiently, tolerating the fury we direct at Him.

Why does God persist with us?

For the same reason Marie persists with Dean – in the hope that one day we will come to recognise His love, and call Him, "Father.”