Christmas Miracles

It is pretty nice to have new little twin babies in our lives right at Christmas.  How easy it is to love them, yet we don’t really know them.  They lie in our arms and sleep.  Sometimes they wake up and look around.  They cry and want to be fed, eagerly opening their little mouths for mama.  But they are only two weeks old and we don’t really know who they are.

When we describe why we like someone, we often say they are nice or kind.  My daughter’s highest compliment is that someone is “hilarious”.  Listening to how we describe friends might give us a clue to what qualities we value most.  Generosity?  Someone who listens?  Unselfish?

Yet these little babes do not exhibit generosity, kindness, nor unselfishness.  Why then are babies so universally loved?  Sure, we say they are cute, but actually a lot of them aren’t.  It rarely matters what anyone we love looks like.  When talking about our friends, we talk about how wonderful they are, how intelligent, or how loving.  We don’t mention that they have a bald spot or a pot belly.

With the babies, a lot of our love for them has to do with the innocence we see, the potential, the fulfillment of a desire.  These are all qualities WE are seeing and has little to do with them. 

When public speaking, an old trick is to imagine that everyone is naked.  Of course, they are not, but the trick might help a public speaker be empowered.  How might our view of mankind change if we saw everyone as innocent as a baby, to be loved and cherished?  Of course they are not babies, but the trick might help us see our fellows as worthy of love that doesn’t depend on their actions. 

It has just been wonderful to have these little ones come right at this time, for they are reminders of the grace of Love.  We can love everyone like people love little babies.  Without question.  With a love that doesn’t depend on others’ actions, on the physical, nor on human circumstance.

Wishing you all a season of brotherhood, and a sense of unity with your fellow humans that Christmas symbolizes.  “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”