Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays are the salutations we have been hearing since – uh Halloween.

We say these greetings with cheerfulness and zeal as we bombard merchants like Boston Store and Wal-Mart.

Some of us are overloading the internet circuits to get the last bargain of the year. The sales persons have been trained to service us with a smile, because our purchases that have maxxed our credit card or has over extended our checking account, just may be the sale that brings in a great commission for them.

Oh my! the embarrassment to say that this season is not the happiest time for me.

I’m so embarrassed to say I don’t want to purchase a tree or expensive gifts I can’t afford.

I’m embarrassed to say Merry Christmas, for it is not politically correct or my boss may fire me.

I’m embarrassed that I’m embarrassed.   

When will this roller coaster end? Will my eyes open so I can truly see the reason for the season?

Maybe I should go back in time and reflect on the beginning of the story.  Yes, then it will become clearer to me.

A heavenly Father one day while looking down on all he had created remarked,

“Who will I chose to take embarrassment for my son, A New Born King?”

Such a responsibility can not be assigned to merely any man or woman.  

My selection must be precise. These persons must exemplify the character of humility.

They will be remembered for all eternity and be endowed with strength and faith to withstand”.

A metropolis could not do, to find the one’s selected for embarrassment and ridicule.

Royalty, popularity, nor fame, could not be associated with their names.

So the creator decided upon a small town called Nazareth and selected a virgin girl named Mary

And her fiancé, a carpenter named Joseph.

“Yes, both are young and pure, they will stand the test of embarrassment. I will be with them, they will endure.”

So while many snickered, chattered, and talked against the lovers two,

for announcing a pregnancy before the marriage was due,

The virgin girl carried within her womb,

A king who would transform the world beyond the grave and the tomb.

The young man, very wise and attentive to Gabriel, an angel who came to him and said,

“Do not divorce her privately, she’s done no wrong,  

these embarrassments you feel is prophesy, do you not remember what you have read?”

So Joseph and Mary, through societal embarrassment grew closer and strong,

They had nothing to hide, for to God, they knew they belonged.

The time finally came for the birth of their child,

No person would take them in, no one gave the expecting couple a smile.

But a stable of animals received them and embraced them with love.

Embarrassed, not this audience — for someone great was to come.

The wise men came seeking, for whom they had sought,  

When they found him, they worshipped him,

embarrassed the king was a baby?

Not these men — embarrassed they were not!

Now I close with this question. If the Great King made his choice, could he choose you for embarrassment? Might you be in His thought?

Lucille I. Badger is the president of W.I.N.R.S. For Christ, Inc., wife of Pastor William (Rick) Badger, and mother to Theodore, Ricquelle, and Quentin Badger.