A Labor of the Heart-Christmas Edition!

On this first day of Christmas, I want to start things off right!

Every year our church does a series of Advent Devotions that are written by it's members. Last year, this piece I wrote was selected to be apart of the series and I wanted to share it with you today.

The Road Less Traveled

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I-

I took the one less traveled by…” Robert Frost

The road less traveled…how often is that the direction we choose for our lives? I like the well-beaten path, the predictable trail with clear markings and maybe a Starbucks along the way. One is dark and frightening, winding its way along with overgrown trees blocking the final destination from our view. The other is brightly lit and wide enough for many to walk down it together. There are no stones and branches to step over, only perfectly paved roads with huge neon signs in the distance, pointing us to our goal. Mary’s path was certainly one that was less traveled and I have often wondered what really went through her mind when the angel Gabriel appeared to her declaring, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:30-32) “How will this be?” (vs. 34) she asked. What do you mean? Why are the plans for my life being so drastically altered? Now I will be different from the rest, set apart, and my path will be one I go down alone.

My own road to motherhood was certainly unlike what I had imagined. But, when they placed our sweet new baby boy in our arms, we realized how much the adoption of this child was a representation on this earth of God’s love and sacrifice for us. The grief, loss and sacrifice of one, providing joy, peace and fulfillment for another. Who would have thought that our pain-filled, doubt-filled and dimly lit road would lead us to a destination quite as amazing as this! John 1:4 says “In Him was life, and that life is the light of men.” Do you trust God to light the way down the darkened path before you? The darkness does not understand the light (John 1:5) that shines through it. It wants us to stay scared and to stay put! It doesn’t want us to move forward trusting that the Light we follow will lead us to an eternal and everlasting hope.

As frightened and confused and overwhelmed as Mary must have been, she chose to take the road less traveled. Not because she knew that there would be a happy and neatly packaged ending, but because she was an obedient follower of the Lord and she trusted Him to be faithful in His promise “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (Eph 3:20) Her obedience to God brought our Savior to this earth, in the form of an infant, to live among us, be led to His death on the cross and rise again! “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Will you run with perseverance down that road less traveled? He has paved the way with His shed blood for you and will be the light to guide you when you fear you are growing weary and losing heart.

“Two roads diverged in a wood and I-
I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference.”

 Joining Simple Pleasures