I like the story about a kid who was assigned the role of the angel Gabriel in the annual church Christmas play. His mother helped him to practice the only line that he had to say. Finally, the big day arrived.
As the boy slowly walked on the stage, his mother started worrying that he might stand up there and freeze. He only had one line, “It is I; be not afraid!” She kept saying to herself, “Say it, ‘It is I; be not afraid. It is I; be not afraid.’” And right then, the boy’s voice rang out, "It's me and I'm scared!"
That could easily be the cry of many of us. “It’s me and I’m scared.” Fear can sometimes be a very real part of our lives. We fear so many things. We worry. We fret. We anguish. Our lives suffer because of it.
The message of the angel on that first Christmas night is so important to our lives today: “Don’t be afraid. I have good news of great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10-11)
May we hear again the Christmas message of the angel: “Don’t be afraid.” I pray that the peace of Christ will be with you during this special and holy time of the year.
If you don’t have a church home, I invite you to join us at First United Methodist Church of LakeCharles for Christmas Eve candlelight communion services at 4:00, 5:30 and 7:00 PM. Merry Christmas!