As we sat down to our traditional Christmas Eve supper. We had one main thing on our mind..."Let's eat." Traditional Christmas Food for a ranch family with quite a little Scandinavian genetics. The table was beautiful. I was taken by how nice each person looked. The atmosphere was thoughtful and yet there were those quips that demonstrated the closeness of this family. Our lutefisk is served in an impeccable white sauce. It is then served on homemade bread. There are other items such as herring, smoked oysters, plenty of cheeses, veggies and dips.

After supper... I asked if anyone had some special Christmas recollections. No one mentioned a gift from under the tree. Nearly all the memories centered around "storms". No electricity.... deep snow....cold winds... tractor troubles... huddling around the stove to stay warm... trials and loss...

And yet there was joy. Each story ended with hope. And that is Christmas.

Not unlike that night when the Messiah was born in Bethlehem. The world at that time was under the rule of Rome. Recall the chaos of the census that was ordered. Remember the order slaughtering babies given by Herod when he heard of the birth of a king. And Jesus was born in a barn...

And yet the message given in the darkness under a starry sky to the shepherds caring for the flocks. The Angels appeared with a message of hope

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 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. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."