I’ve been thinking about this seed of Yahweh planted in the cave of a woman-child.
Confined and nurtured in soft dark womb, nourished with her every heartbeat.
And how cells of cell multiplied until he fluttered light.
Then stretched and rose like yeast bread in her warm belly.
Until her body could no longer contain him.
How the walls closed in, contracted, kneaded, and she expelled him down that painful passage toward the light.
How with gush of blood and water he slid wet into straw.
Whose hands touched him first, this son of man?
His earthly father’s?
Did his parents count his perfect fingers–the fingers of God himself?
I think about those tiny hands that fisted around their fingers, that held their hands as he grew.
About those hands that maybe planted seeds in soil, shaped wood, perhaps chiseled stone.
The hands that touched and healed and held a scroll.
The fingers that wrote in dirt.
And how one day he, light of lights, staggered down another narrow painful passage, toward the dark.
Pummeled and beaten by hands of others.
As his own slivered palms quivered with the weight of a heavy cross.
How he was stretched wide, this bread of life.
How this one whose hands pounded nails to build, accepted pounded nails meant to break Creator by created.
And how his mother’s heart exploded with the pain of it and the love of him.
I think of how his own limp body could not hold him.
How with gush of blood and water he slipped his earthly life.
And how his mother may have caressed and kissed those grown man’s blood-stained hands.
I think about this seed of Yahweh, this son of man, planted in a cave of earth.
Confined to cold, dark stone.
Until the tomb could not contain him.
How he stretched and rose, this bread of life.
And how he comes to us still and plants himself in our hearts, becomes our heartbeat.
So our hearts explode with the pain of it and the love of him.
And we cannot contain him.
I scrub my hands with purest soap,
then join hands with the others in the great circle,
dancing around your altar, God,
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,
telling God-stories. ~Psalm 26:6-7 (Message)
Joining Faith Barista, Bonnie, today as she asks what character in the Christmas story is speaking to us.
Also walking with Ann and spilling crumbs with Emily.

You may not be into Christmas, but His spirit is certainly into you! This is remarkable.
I see His spirit in you year round, Susan. Hugs to you.
This is a Mary year for me, too. But you said it better than I thought it.
So much pondering, right Megan? So much.
This is so rich and layered… beautiful! Thank you.
Thank you for coming by, Dolly. Layers and layers of blessings to you.
I agree with Susie’s comment. Mine would have headed the same direction. For someone who’s struggling with Christmas physically and emotionally, your spirit is focused on your dear Father and His life-changing Son.
Oh, Sandy…wow! Words that leave me speechless, breathless, words that are…every one…as Susan said, a gift. Thank you, beautiful soul, for words that stir and soak deep. Love!
Oh Sandy – this is a gift. Thank you for sharing your heart through your beautiful words. This is Christmas dear heart.
this is one of the most powerful pieces i’ve read this christmas, dear sandra. took.my.breath.away. merry christmas, beautiful friend.
Oh, Sandy. This – this is magnificent, every single syllable. This one took deep thinking, careful choosing, prayerful layering. Thank you so, so much. Oh, just so much.
Amazingly, painfully beautiful. In the reading The Spirit gives an ah-ha moment. He is teaching me that through pain I stretch, rise unable to contain Jesus because grace lifts and He must increase. Thank you for being His vessel this morning.
Stunning, Sandra. Just stunning. So thankful for you and your words. Deepest blessings to you this Christmas, friend.
These words flowed from the Spirit of God right through your fingers to touch us… to bless us… from the hand of God himself. Sandy, I love you.
“so our hearts explode with the pain of it and the love of Him”…wow, Sandra, that’s exactly how it is. Just achingly beautiful.
Oh Sandy … How you deep-see. Just taking this in …