One of the things we did as a family this Christmas was go to the Safe House and celebrate Christmas with the children and staff. You will remember that the Safe House is where the Kenyan government in the Naivasha area first takes children that had to be removed from their homes because of pending court cases, abandonment, neglect, abuse, etc….
As I looked at the carefully decorated Christmas tree at the Safe House, two things caught my attention. One, there were no Christmas presents under the tree. For these children there was no ripping open wrapping paper. There was no stockings stuffed with surprises. Christmas consisted of much needed caps to help fight off the cold Naivasha nights and a new pair of jeans. This was heartbreaking to me.
The second thing that struck me about the Christmas tree was that there was simply a manger scene underneath it. What more could anyone want for Christmas? The gift of Christ. The gift of redemption and salvation. The gift of God Himself invading our time and space continuum to show us the way, the truth and the life.
Is not this Christmas tree at the Naivasha Safe House a picture of the Gospel? A picture of heartbreak and hope. In the midst of abandonment, neglect and abuse God’s response is a baby born in a manger, a son destined to a cross and a glorious resurrection. In the midst of war, famine, epidemic and heartache is the promise of Immanuel – God is with us no matter how bleak our situation. Was not Christ, the hope of the world, born into the tragedy of Herod killing all the male children of Bethlehem?
Heartbreak and Hope. The way of things until the second advent of our Lord. Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly (1 Cor 16:22).