The Greatest Love Story

I'm a sucker for a love story. It's my favorite genre of books and movies. Doesn't take much to reel me in. It's pretty sad. But I just love the thought of a white horse and a prince. And someone rescuing you from all saddness and hopelessness. haha.

Ok, so the older I've gotten the more I've realized how unrealistic this fantasy is. Don't *GASP* at me and think I am saying my husband is not amazing. To me he is prince charming. But he's only human. And fairy tales are not written about humans. The bad things is we let our kids watch Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. And we think that the guy who comes along has to be PERFECT. It might be silly. But that's really what I thought. I was seriously looking for a PERFECT person to come along, sweep me off my feet, never make me angry, etc... And that just isn't going to ever happen.

Of course, there are many moments when my own romance has taken my breath away or given me the "warn fuzzies".

But, no matter how hard Jonathan tries to be my Knight and Shining armor, he will never achieve perfection. Us humans are incapable.

My point? There is a love story that this year has literally given me warm fuzzies all over. And it has brought a smile to my face. And it has made me realize I have a Knight in Shining Armor. A perfect love. Hope when there is none anywhere else. And that is something that no one else can give me.

I realize I may sound cliche' or cheesy. But I really don't care. Seriously. When I was reading the Christmas story tonight it gave me chills. It made me smile. It is a warm and fuzzy story. It ends well. There is no heart break for me in it. Only Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. It's a wonderful story.

I hope it won't just be a story that we look at for what it can give to us though. I hope it motivates us to live for the One who deserves the deepest admiration we can muster.

And I hope you will let it take your breath away.

More importantly, I hope we will allow it to change our lives, the way we conduct every day.

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 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.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.