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The story is thin. It is about a single mom angry with her dad because he wasn't around when she was young. Erin holds onto this hurt much harder than the movie ever explains adequately. She does say something about looking at her dad having a good time with her daughters and it makes her jealous, but that doesn't come until after she has chilled her dad out to about negative 10,000 degrees for much of the movie. This woman is bitter. It's even stranger because Stephanie Bennett is upbeat with everyone else and seems pleasant most of the rest of the time. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. In a world entrenched in sin and shame, the church became a lighthouse of forgiveness. Thousands traded the burden of guilt for the joy of rest. Countless millions have joined them since. Like Zechariah, they’ve been confronted with the horror of their sins against God. They’ve tasted its bitter consequences. And they’ve found forgiveness — lying in a manger, laboring in Nazareth, lifted on a cross, leaving the grave, and now Lord over all.
Joseph was contemplating divorce. But, and this is where love and forgiveness was displayed. In his contemplation, he was mindful not to disgrace Mary. He was going to deal with the situation in love without openly disgracing Mary. He was going to end it privately to spare Mary any open shame. Here is a great love lesson; in our dealing with others, we must act out of love and not the desire to spite other. It is very likely if any of us found ourselves in Joseph’s shoes, firstly, the whole community will hear about how Mary has been unfaithful. We may proceed to tell how a hypocrite she has been. She carried herself as a virgin and here she was with a pregnancy.
Sometimes forgiveness is easy. But sometimes it is very, very hard, especially when a person we loved and trusted has betrayed us. We might say we forgive someone, but then painful memories replay in our minds, and it is tempting to wallow in resentment again. When this happens, we might wonder: If I still feel the pain, and I don’t trust these people anymore, did I truly forgive them from my heart? If I’m tempted to resentment, did I fail to forgive fully? Fred is persistent in his cheerful approach to Christmas. We see him celebrating wholeheartedly with his friends. How many times had he and his wife sat and cried together in silence? How many times had they had the same aching conversations? How many times had they talked about names? How many times had they held someone else’s newborn? How many times had they thought she might be pregnant? How many times had they asked for a child? For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Love then is the greatest gift to give because Love gives and Love is generous. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Christmas is also a season of forgiveness because love forgives. The reason for which Christ was born, as recorded by Matthewhe was that he “will save his people from their sins.” (v.21). God loves us. The sins of those who come to faith in Christ are forgiven because love covers a multitude of sins. “… [Love] shall cover the multitude of sins.” (Proverbs 10:12, 1Peter 4:8). Our sins are covered, fully paid for if we believe in Christ and have given our lives to Him. Our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ, are the greatest example of love. A beloved scripture teaches, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 2
I never used to go with him to the midnight mass. That started from when the children were small and I'd stay home with them and it just became the thing. But I'd wait up for him. When I heard the door I thought he must have forgotten his wallet or something. Even when I saw the police officers there and they told me Alan had had an accident and hurt his head, I just thought 'Oh he'll be wanting to get home as soon as he can'. Our daughter had just arrived from Mozambique and we hadn't seen her for two years. I drove to the hospital thinking I could bring him home." Yes, well a murder investigation is a bizarre thing. Very strange. You hear them being talked about all the time, then you are in the same courtroom as them, you're sitting next to Ashley's girlfriend and nodding to his mother. Ashley's family just live up the road. They are real, not evil. They are men who have done an evil thing.
Does it matter who actually tendered this seasonal olive branch, given that the visit was a disaster in any case? Yet the inconsistency feels significant, because this book is as much about healing and forgiveness as it is about fairytale cruelty to children. Winterson’s chapter for New Year’s Eve considers Christmas as a time of reflection – there’s a recipe for cheese crispies to aid the process – in which she notes: “Memory isn’t an archive. Even a simple memory is a cluster … our memories change as we do.” Kim Jong Un will play Santa this year in the South’s annual pantomime. He said he fancied a Korea change!If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. Why don’t Southern Rail train guards share advent calendars? They want to open the doors themselves! And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Brothers and sisters, at this Christmas season, let us all give the best gifts. Let us sacrifice with grateful hearts our favorite toys—not the ones we’ve worn out. And let us give the gift of love, the gift of service to those around us, and the true gift of forgiveness. For as we repent, the Holy One of Israel forgives us. I testify that He lives. He is the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Friend. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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