(Post By: Scott Hobbs – Blogmas Day Twenty 2023)
Death is an ugly thing; if it’s without hope. We weren’t designed to deal with it. I hate sin, illness, chaos, and death. But we live in a fallen world and it’s our fault that we have to deal with all these things. Sin is ugly and has consequences.
About now you are probably thinking; that’s a crazy way to start a Christmas Blogmas post. And you’re right. I will try to explain and bring it back around to our reason for Blogmas; Jesus and new life.
You see, I’m sitting here with my family, after midnight, on what some would call a death watch. Our 14 year old, flat coated retriever, Ruby, has had a rough day and is probably in her final days if not hours.
We have all been struggling to hide our tears and sadness. My kids were very young when she came into our lives and they can barely remember life without her. I have had dogs my entire life and quite honestly would choose time with my dog over most people I know; present company excluded of course. That is to say, I have always been a dog lover from my youngest of days.
I think dogs are a lot like Jesus. A good dog is loyal to a fault; they will never let you down. They are there when you’re having a rough day to help brighten your spirits and get you through a hard time. Dogs are happy to see you, dare I say overjoyed most of the time, just that you come home. They want to spend time with you doing most anything; from a truck ride, to working outside, to just lying in the shop while you work.
Probably the thing about our Ruby that reminded me most of Jesus was that she loved unconditionally. No matter my mood, sick or healthy, short temper, busy or idle, or anything else she just wanted to be with me and know that I loved her. Just her presence was enough to let me know she loved me; no matter what.
That’s Christmas. God sending His only son to us. Jesus giving up His place with the Father to come down and just be with us. So He could just do life with us, teach us, love us unconditionally right to the cross.
This new birth we celebrate is more than just one life coming into the world. It’s one life coming into the world to love us unconditionally, spend time with us no matter our station in life, and die for us. No payment or strings attached. We just have to accept the free gift.
That’s Christmas. Don’t miss it with all the other things the world tries to make it into. This Jesus thing is as simple as the love of a good dog; all you have to do is believe and accept it. It cancels all the death, chaos, and sin.
Wow!! What a Christmas celebration when we get that. Merry Christmas!!
The Few 
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