Yes, seventeen years ago “The Big Guy” was snuggled and warm in his car seat.

Children bring a whole different energy to any celebration, especially Christmas. A new baby brings a special excitement to any family their first Christmas. Everyone wants to hold the new baby, remark about which relative the child favors and dream about what the future holds for the infant.

We are told in the gospel of Luke that after the angels declared the news of Christ’s birth to the shepherds, these men immediately left their herd and went to see the promised Messiah that Isaiah and other prophets had spoken of centuries earlier. However, religious leaders of the day took little notice of the event. When the local governor, Herod was asked by the wise men, “Where is the King of the Jews?”, Herod immediately summoned the high priests and scribes. Herod asked about the birthplace of Jesus, and these religious leaders immediately responded, “Bethlehem” because they were familiar with the words of the prophet Micah who, seven centuries earlier wrote, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2) While these leaders knew where the Messiah was to be born, yet they made no effort to go and see for themselves the promised Savior. Bells should have been ringing all over Bethlehem that first Christmas night.