Get Loud With the Good News!
Some people seem to think that the life of an empty-nester is leisurely and unstructured – less housework, longer stretches between grocery runs, lots of margin in schedules and on calendars. That’s mostly true – until the grandkids come along. And if the grandkids are local, most of those ideas about empty-nesters fly out the window – which is okay by me.
Less housework? Yes, until the grands spend a day at the house and go home. Then there are random toys to put away and extra dishes to be washed. Fortunately, the day has finally arrived where my grands are old enough to help with most of those chores.
Less frequent trips to the grocery store? Uh, my grandkids can pack away the food! And we’re famous for having lots of snacks on hand. Since we have a reputation to uphold, the route to the store is well traveled by us.
Freedom in our schedules? Priority is given first to church and related activities. Next on the list – volleyball, softball, soccer, and cheer. Eating and sleeping fill in the gaps.
Found on this past fall’s calendar were three soccer schedules and a cheer schedule. This is the second season for our little cheerleader to be on this particular squad, and the girls are really seeming to get the hang of it. Their movements are sharper, their coordination is improving, and their voices are projecting further.
In fact, one of their cheers actually encourages exuberant spectators for the flag football team that they support to “get loud.” These girls want everyone within earshot to know that their team is something special, and they want the team spirit to spread like wildfire!
At the time of the birth of Christ, some unlikely “cheerleaders” took up the call of Jesus and began to spread the word that Someone special had arrived and that something new was being ushered in – the Kingdom of God.
Luke 2:8-20 tells the story of a group of shepherds out in the fields with their flocks on that seemingly ordinary night. A holy interruption in the form of an angel of the Lord brings the long-awaited message:
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the one angel is joined by a multitude of angels, and they can’t refrain from praising God with these words:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”
And then they’re gone.
The astonished shepherds finally recover enough to hurry to Bethlehem to find Mary, Joseph, and the Baby just as the angel had promised. “Glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,” they spread the word about this Baby and the events surrounding His birth.
The lowly shepherds find their voice – they “get loud” about this amazing night! Word of the Child’s birth spreads like wildfire, and longing hearts – waiting hearts – rejoice! The promised Messiah has finally arrived, bringing God’s joy and peace!
Have you experienced the arrival of the Savior into your heart? If so, will you join in the mission of the shepherds on that long ago night? “Get loud” about the saving grace of Jesus! The world is longing and hurting, and you hold the answer to hope and healing in the good news of the gospel! Fill your circle of influence with the light of His love, joy, and peace.
(If you’re wondering what the big deal is about Jesus, please reach out to someone you know and respect who follows Him. They’d love to share with you the gift of salvation in Christ that they’ve received!)
