At this moment, this very moment, somewhere in the world a baby is being born. A child is letting out their very first cry. A woman is becoming this beautiful amazing thing: a mother.

Every child, every last one, changes the world around it. This woman? Her life will never be the same after she holds that child in her arms, a child born out of her pain, her suffering, her travailing.

She will look at this child, and she will not be able to fathom a time this child was not a part of her life, her heart. A time before this child no longer exists. Her love, somehow, has always been for this child. Her love always will be.

Every child changes the world.

One Child changed the Universe.

One Child, born out of water and blood, born out of spirit and holiness, One Child changed the Universe.

This Child had always been. Will always be. The love of this Child would shake the very foundations of the stars.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2

Out of His pain, His suffering, His travailing, would come the Salvation of mankind.

In one small stable, long ago, a young girl travailed and brought forth a Son. The Son.

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:7

It would forever change her life.

Forever change every life.

She would go on to have other children, and each would hold her heart, change her life.

But this one? He would redeem her heart.

He would redeem my heart, your heart.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

I sit here now, and I stare at my child, my beautiful, amazing, incredible, child.

She has changed my life, she fills up my heart.

I think of how every child, every person, can change a life. Even me. My very presence can change lives. My very being. Without me there is a hole in the universe where I should have been. Without my daughter the world would not be the same. Every life is precious, so very precious. However short, however long, each one leaves ripples on the existence of all around them. Small ripples, large ripples.

Every life is precious. Every life holds purpose.

But One Life changed everything. Rippled not only through every life, but right out through every death too. Rippled across every star, for His life even caused a new star to be born, and ALL of creation praised His Name.

May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.  All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. Psalm 72:17

One Life changed the Universe.

Such an ordinary thing, birth. It happens every day, every hour, all over the world. Each one such a miracle!

Every life changes a life.

This beautiful, fluid thing, called history, called time, called space and existence. So profoundly changed by something so small, so fragile, so totally dependent, as the beginning of a life.

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:2-5

I hold my daughter close and I understand.

God values these precious things, children, the smallest ones. Because the small, the lowly, these are miracles that change the world. He always uses the small, the lowly, the least.

No wonder He chose a stable for the birth place of a King.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town  of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

Merry Christmas!

Joy Aletheia Stevens