Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Tannia Ortiz-Lopes

December 17, 2006

Today the official Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/New Years/Holiday Contest starts.

I am putting Tannia’s submission for the Contest here because it is rather long but very good no doubt.

From Divine to Human - The Child Jesus^[1]

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.”  (John 1:1-5)

Reflection:  Since the beginning of time, Jesus has been preparing Himself to take the task of being the shepherd to a generation lost in the darkness and burdened with man made laws. The world has forgotten all the miracles God has done for them. From slavery to freedom. From hunger to fullness of body and soul. From thirst to no thirst. From believing to wickedness. From loyalty to betrayal.

A generation full of hypocrisy and despair.

Among

those unbelievers

where those

who trusted God

and waited for

the promised Messiah

the Prince of Peace

the Son of David

the Son of God.

To those faithful

and lowly ones,

the Lord God chose

to show them His only begotten Son

to announce to them the birth of His Son

to fulfill the promises of the Messiah

to give them a Shepherd

a Good Shepherd

to guide them

and called them

by name

to the flock

of

His

Kingdom.

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in you womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”  Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”  Then the angel departed from her.”  (Luke 1:26-38)

Reflection:

“Knock, knock!”

“Who is there?”

“Gabriel.”

“Gabriel who?”

“Gabriel the Archangel who brings good news of joy and salvation to the world! And you, Mary, have been chosen to play a very important role in God’s plan of salvation to this generation and others to come.”

“Are you serious? Me? This must be a mistake.”

“No mistake. You have found favor in the Lord’s eyes.”

“You will conceive a child and you shall call him Jesus. He will be the Son of God.”

“Wow. Isn’t that a little too much? I am just a young girl. I am not sure I have the experience for such a task. Do you have a parenting book that I could use?”

“Don’t worry about that. The Lord will always be with you. He will provide for you, the child, and your family.”

“Let it be done according to His will!

And the rest is history!  If Mary have said, “NO”, to God’s proposal, the world would be something quite different of what it is today. Besides, I will not have the love of Jesus in my heart. I will have nothing to go on. My life will be just emptiness and loneliness. Thank you, Mary, for saying yes. Your acceptance of this big task have saved many and continue to save many more for generations to come!

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1-21)

Reflection:  Jesus likes to travel! He traveled while creating the world with God. Traveled from Nazareth, Galilee to Bethlehem where He was born. From a golden bed, angels for companions, God the Father, and a heavenly family to a humble, faithful, and earthly family and a manger for bed. What a change!!! And he accepted this humble situation so I could be saved!  Jesus was born in a stable. His birth occurred quietly until it was time to spread the news of His birth.

And the heavens where opened and the angels shouted from Heaven on their heavenly songs the good news of the birth of Christ. The news spread throughout the land:

IT’S A BOY!, IT’S A BOY!

EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA

in the city of Bethlehem

your Savior has been born!

And the angels sang and praised the Lord:

“Glory to God in the highest

and on earth peace to those on whom his

favor rests,” (Luke 2:14)

The shepherds went to see their Savior and share this announcement with those present.

“Then they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.” (Luke 2:20)

“He was in the world,

and the world came to be through him,

but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own,

but his own people did not accept him.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only Son,

full of grace and truth.

...because while the law was given

through Moses, grace and truth came through

Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God.

The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,

has revealed him.”  (John 1:10-11, 14, 17-18)

Reflection:   Nine months later, the Son of God was born to a virgin. A lot of visitors came and went but now is time to feed, change diapers, and sleep. Mary contemplated and kissed the face of God. Mary hugged God. Mary fed God. Mary rocked God to sleep. Mary changed God’s dirty diapers! And all these happened without penalty of death for seeing, kissing, hugging, and talking to God face to face. What a privilege! What a big responsibility! What an honor!

As Mary so lovingly held Jesus, she noticed a “smell”. Is it possible that the Son of God also could produce such a smell? “Joseph, he is fully human and truly God!  I must change his diaper”. Mary changed baby Jesus’ diapers and washed them too.  Jesus laid peacefully on the manger. One hour later, the sound of hunger disrupted Mary’s sleep. “Are you hungry, little one? Come and feed. Mom’s milk is warm and good for you to drink. Very good. Let’s burp those gases so you could go back to sleep. Very good! Oh, my goodness, that was a good one!” Joseph leaned close to Mary and kissed baby Jesus’ face and said a prayer and a blessing for him. Then the blessed family goes back to sleep with the heavenly angels singing lullabies to baby Jesus.  Morning comes and it is time for Jesus’ first bath. Joseph prepared the fire to boil water for Jesus’ bath. Everything is ready, gently Mary bathed Jesus and He smiled at her. Is He blessing her as she takes care of Him?  Baby Jesus is clean, dry, dressed, and ready to be fed prior to go to register the family as demanded by the decree.

On the eighth day, Jesus is taken to the temple to be presented to the Lord as it was the Jewish tradition. And what a commotion that visited created!  If you think that raising children is a hard, think again. Imagine been the parent of a famous actor, singer, or TV star.  That’s how Mary and Joseph must have felt since the beginning but the best was yet to come..!

“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord”, and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves of two young pigeons”, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Simeon, a righteous  and devout man, took the child Jesus into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go

in peace, according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in sight of all the

peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory for your people Israel.”

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also another prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”  (Luke 2:22-40)

Reflection:  Eight days later. No more visitors coming over to see the child. A little of peace at home for the blessed family. I am sure Mary could use the rest, peace, and quiet to meditate over all the events that had passed and she prepared for more to come.  By this time, Mary, realized how blessed she truly is and how important her role is on God’s plan of salvation. I wonder if Mary was pondering and wondering about everything. First came the angel with the news and then the Holy Spirit over her. Her barren relative Elizabeth conceived a child in old age. Jesus was born and shepherds came to honor him and spread the good news of His birth. Now at the temple, two faithful-righteous and trust worthy servants of the Lord were praising God and saying marvelous things about her child. “Did I bite off more than I could chew?”  I wonder if Mary ever asked herself that question.  But knowing how confident she was in the Lord’s promises, I am sure she continued to bless and praise the Lord more than ever.  I suppose she also prayed for the grace of wisdom to raise this child according to the Lord’s laws and will!. I could almost imagine her saying the same words Solomon told God when he was chosen king of Israel: “Give me, therefore, wisdom and knowledge to”^[2] rise this child, your Son, Jesus. And just as God was pleased with Solomon’s request. He also answered Mary’s prayer. He gave her many blessings, the grace of wisdom, the grace of knowledge, and the grace of endurance to prepare herself emotionally and spiritually for the road ahead.

Jesus grew strong and obedient to his parents. I wonder if he ever played hide and seek with his parents.  I could hear his laugh traveling on the wind as he giggled while Mary tickled Him. Who blessed who with a kiss?  Picture Jesus playing on the grass rolling over, doing cart wheels, racing with other children, licking His fingers after eating a delicious meal.  Was He a happy child?  Was He ever on time out? (I don’t think He was ever on time out).  But if  He was, did He accept it quietly or did He complains and say, “That is so unfair! Wait until I tell my daddy.”  How to discipline the child of God? I can see His dirty and sweaty face after a long day of playing with his friends and relatives.

How to comfort a child who even though seems human

feels like a human

eats like a human

and bathes like a human

is also Divine

God

Son

Lord

and Savior

Mary must have had a full plate raising this child and at the same time have the joy, challenge, and satisfaction of knowing she was doing a good job. I can hear her talking with God and Him telling her what a great job she and Joseph were doing!

And through his childhood he lived like a child

did things like a child

enjoyed being a child

felt like a child

cried like a child

laughed like a child

did his house chores

played like a child

was fragile like a child

dependent like a child

smelled like a child

fed like a child

learned to hold his head like a human child

to turn like a human child

to stand like a human child

to walk and run like a human child

to feed himself like humans do

to sleep like a human child

dreamt like a human child

prayed like a human child

From divine to human; what a humble experience! From having it all to having none^[3].  From seeing from above to seeing face to face. From touching His creation with a human body not a divine one. From creating a world to kissing and hugging His creation with human love.  From enjoying human creation to creating new “human” as he touched the lives of many and chose His disciples. As a child, the world must have seemed bigger than it was. Were His steps difficult since he could “fly” no more?

Just a regular earthly human baby needs tender, loving, care so did He. He loved us so much not because we were created for Him and by Him, but because he learned to be human and understood human suffering, aches, and pains by suffering them Himself. He walked a mile in our shoes and endured to the end.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures you let me graze;

to safe waters you lead me;

you restore my strength.

You guide me along the right path

for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley,

I fear no harm for you are at my side;

your rod and staff give me courage.

You set a table before me

as my enemies watch;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows

Only goodness and love will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the Lord

for years to come.

Tannia Ortiz-Lopes

tanniaortizlopes@yahoo.com

Tannia E. Ortiz-Lop?s was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico and currently lives in Germany with her husband and two sons. On 2004, the author published her first free-style inspirational poetry book, The Window to my soul, My Walk with Jesus, with Tate Publishing and under the pen name of Mary Magdalene. On March 2006, the book was voted “Best Poetry Book” by www.christianstoryteller.com The book could be purchased directly from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com and at all major online stores.

Author’s webpage: www.myspace.com/tanniaortizlopes. The author also has a blog at www.amazon.com