I was reading Luke’s account of  the angels visiting the shepherds with the stunning announcement that the Savior had been born.

Here’s the beloved Linus version.

 

 

One phrase stood out to me like never before. “Wrapped in swaddling clothes”.

Maybe it’s because I am a brand new Grandma and the other day I learned how to swaddle.  (It’s slightly different than what we moms did 30 years ago.  Now there are sleeping “sacks” to be zippered up, with attached velcro-ed swaddling-flaps on both sides, effectively turning your newborn into an adorable burrito!)

What security this gives an infant who needs the tight embrace of the secure wrapping.  Whose tiny limbs are prone to startle.

And so Mary wrapped her baby boy in the same manner – in swaddling clothes.

In the same manner, as God longs to wrap us.

When we are filled with angst, when we can’t control our weak hearts, we need God to  swaddle us in His love.  Love that only He can give – as our heavenly parent.  Our creator.  The lover of our soul.

The problem is that often my flailing arms  try to break free from His swaddling.  I want to lead my own affairs — untethered and unseen.

This rarely turns out well.

So this holiday season, I am reminded that I am God’s child, even in my 6th decade.  May I lay still in His presence – long enough to be swaddled or wrapped securely in His loving arms.

 

The best place to be.

 

 

 

Luke 2:8-15 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.