Heaven’s Heartbeat - Christmas is a Time to Heal

Because the lights in the operating room were so bright, I squinted. Two nurses, one on my left and the other on my right, were watching over me. Both were pleasant, friendly and busy. The anesthesiologist was cracking jokes as he stood behind the nurse on my left. The surgeon stood at the end of the table I was lying on, dialing in the attending robot, Da Vinci. I had IV’s in both arms. The nurse on my right leaned down closer within inches of my face. I could tell she was smiling behind her mask when she asked, “Do you want to do this without anesthesia?”

“Hmm”, I said, “that might be an adven…”

I never got the word “adventure” out. The next time I opened my eyes was a couple of hours later in recovery, then again when I was wheeled out to Nancy. I still don’t know who helped me out of the hospital gown and dressed me, socks, and all. Nancy doesn’t either.

Even though it was a minor surgery to remove an acutely inflamed gallbladder, two of my four incisions are still a shade of purplish-pink. Four scars where Dr. Reese accompanied by the robot Da Vinci, entered my stomach cavity and removed the rebellious organ.

Scars tell me that I’m healing.

I’m referring to the outside, that I can see. Hidden on the inside, where I still have phantom pains, the doc tells me another three weeks and all the unseen stuff should be healed up and good to go. If a wound is properly dressed and cared for, they heal. If not, it becomes an oozing and infected threat. The risk of infection will increase and can spread throughout the body with severe consequences. In some cases, life-threatening.

I need healing inside and out, so does our nation.

I’m talking about our states, counties, cities, churches and families. And just maybe, you need healing, too. Christmas is the time for healing. At least that’s what Luke 2:14 announces. Most of us learned it from King James:

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

Do you struggle with a wound—old or new? It’s not unusual these days to feel wounded and bleeding, especially spiritually or emotionally. And friends, it’s nothing new, either. Wounds can be traced all the way back to brothers Cain and Abel.

But there was another man I’m thinking of who suffered deep wounds at Christmas time. His name was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. On Friday, December 25, 1863, Longfellow, a 57-year-old widowed father of six children, was suffering from wounds of the heart. His beloved wife Fanny, died from terrible burns when her dress caught fire from a candle. Now, his oldest son, Charles, was nearly paralyzed in battle at New Hope Church, Virginia.

At his lowest point, the celebrated poet admitted it was more than he could bear. As he listened to the bells, he began to write what became known as the poem “Christmas Bells.” In one stanza, he confesses:

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth” I said;
    "For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Despite the overwhelming reality of pain and suffering, he held onto the hope that Luke 2:14 offers—and found strength and healing in the message. His last stanza announces:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

You can read the entire poem here:  Christmas Bells, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Our Lord’s mission went far beyond His birth. He came into the world to heal the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the brokenhearted and bring salvation to all who would believe in and follow Him. Through His Word, His miracles, and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, Jesus brought hope and healing to a broken world, and to you.

I dare say that in some way we all need the healing touch of Jesus.

Christmas time can be a difficult time for many of us, as past hidden experiences and visible unresolved emotions produce stress, fear, anxiety, or depression.

Here’s a word we need to hear again: Jesus did not come for the healthy, He came for the soul that is crying out for healing. Jesus is your Great Physician and He is a caring, loving, Savior. If you are wounded in any way, pause, and reach out to Him.

If you are well, whole, and healed, then where you can, and to whom you can, offer to pray, to bless, to encourage, to help, always seeking to point others to the One who healed you.

Casting Crowns sing “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” here:

Christmas is a time to heal, inside and out. Be healed in Jesus Name.

We bless you all with a Merry Christmas.

- Micah