Our in-the-flesh experience begins suddenly. The world opens to us bright and cold and startling. We wail and blink, stunned by the suddenness, the shifting from warmth and comfort of a watery womb to an overstimulating awareness and newness.
Lungs gasp air and breath pumps in, out, in, out.
Legs and arms thrash and pump too.
We are warmed, comforted, soothed, suckled, swaddled, cuddled.
Thus, the journey of life begins.

Our minds begin to receive messages from the minute our cries announce our arrival.
Messengers wear many forms. Some carry true messages, some falsehoods, lies, and accusations. Somehow it seems we most easily embrace, welcome in, hail heartily the messengers who thrive on beratement and belittlement.
What we do with these messages matter. Which messengers we give our time to formulates our perspectives about ourselves, about the story we’re telling.
We grow and change and grow. We make decisions, have experiences, live out joys and sorrows, regrets and celebrations.
We see abundance, observe scarcity. We want wisdom, seek insight. We’re still startled, overstimulated, gasping.
We still need soothing, comforting, compassion.
For as our stories unfold we also become messengers……of one sort or another.
Perhaps:
Messengers of negativity or messengers of complaint.
Do we carry messages to incite or messages of fright?
Messengers who waylay, critique, cut down. Might we be found as messengers of bitterness? Do we carry the message of pride, arrogance, entitlement? Do we let it be known how completely right we are?
OR are we:
Messengers of hope, messengers of kindness.
Do we carry a message of peace, one of comradeship?
Might we be messengers of mercy?
Hold out messages of empathy, hands to comfort.
Bring a message of delight, of wonder, of beauty.
Messengers of good news of great joy!
One afternoon in Bethlehem the wail of a newborn pierces the air. The young mother pants with relief and thrills at the sound of her baby. Her husband supports her back, arms tightening around her. The midwife deftly cleans this baby boy and wraps him in warmth.
Another baby! The pleasure of welcoming these little ones never grows old. Assisting and aiding, carrying a message of the arrival to family and friends.
She laughs with delight into the scrunched up face of this little man. Eyes blink open, gaze back, find focus.
She continues to swaddle.
In her arms she holds The Message this messy world has been groaning, longing, hoping for.

this is a wonderful post and a wonderful reminder. thanks. merry Christmas to you and your family
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. I appreciate it so much!
May your Christmas be filled with peace and delight!