A young dark eyed girl startled awake. There was a presence in her room.  She gasped as she realized there was a glorious being standing at the foot of her bed. Was she dreaming? Her trembling told her that she was now wide awake and the being was as real as the goose bumps running up and down her body.

You know the story. It was Gabriel the Arch Angel that stands in the very presence of God. The young girl was Mary, a poor unmarried girl. She was the least of the least.

Mary listened as the Angel said amazing things to her. “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you," he announced.

What did that mean. Why would the Lord be with a young, unimportant girl. Then a more startling revelation came from the angel. “...You will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

That is pretty amazing, but nearly as amazing was the response of the young Mary. She asked one pertinent question and then to paraphrase she said, “Let Him be born in me.”

Oh that we can all be as Mary. “Let Him be born in me.” Want to find the true meaning of Christmas? Open your heart and prepare for Him to be born into your life.

Merry Christmas.