No News is NOT Always Good News

"Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

You've heard it said before that "no news must mean good news." We make that statement oftentimes fully realizing it is filled with holes and faulty logic. It could be we say it to reassure ourselves or others. After all, when it comes to good news, it is meant to be shared. Otherwise, is it really good news.

I read a story once about a couple name Ole and Helga. The couple met when they were teenagers and married in their late teens. After more than thirty years of marriage, Helga comes to Ole one day and says, "I want a divorce. You don't love me anymore and I want a divorce." Ole, a bit stunned and taken back, responded by saying, "But I have taken care of you, provided for you...I've spent the last thirty years right by your side." Undeterred, Helga retorted, "You don't love me anymore. In thirty years, I don't ever remember you saying those three simple words: 'I Love You.'" Ole's answer was classic. He said with sincerity and tenderness to his wife, "Helga, I said 'I Love You' on the day we were married. If I ever change my mind, I'll let you know."

Ole loved his wife, but never shared that news with his wife. It may have been true. But the lack of good news left Helga to fill in the gaps with bad news.

Christmas time reminds us that while the world is filled with bad news, there is good news to every human being. Not only does God's word tell of the good news (that Jesus Christ is born the Savior of all), Jesus Christ brought the good news. Just think of it as God's Show and Tell. It wasn't just enough for God to tell us of His love; He showed it. On that first Christmas night when Jesus was born, the promise of God was fulfilled and good news came to all. Angels declared that good news to shepherds who were watching their sheep under the night's cloak of darkness.

The angels told of good news. But it was more than just a message of good news. The message spoke of the birth of Savior; a Deliverer. There was even the mention of a sign. The shepherds could know without a doubt that this good news was to be true. For they would find the baby, the Savior, wrapped in cloths and lying in the manger. The good news was confirmed for every shepherd who went to find the baby lying in the manger.

After departing from the presence of Jesus, the shepherds left proclaiming the good news which they had heard, and had now seen.

But imagine if God has sent His Son to be the Redeemer of all mankind, but told no one. What if shepherds had not been summoned, wise men drawn by the star? What if the prophets had not been inspired to pen the words of God's promise? What if the Apostles and the writers of the New Testament had never passed along the good news either verbally or in written form? No news wouldn't have meant good news, but rather a continuance of more bad, hopeless news.

Consider the person who may have told you for the first time of God's love and forgiveness available because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What if their mouth had been silent? What if the good news that he or she possessed was kept bottled up? Where might you be? Good news is meant to be shared. The message of God's great love and forgiveness is meant to be spoken and demonstrated to others. Oh that we would take a perfect opportunity, celebrating Christmas, to share the good news with others.

It has been almost a month since I last wrote a blog. I wish that no news meant complete good news for our family. We have had several really great days. Maybe even a couple great weeks. Through Thanksgiving, Micah did incredibly well. In the last two weeks, however, our family has been fighting sickness upon sickness. Micah's had a fever and vomiting the Friday after Thanksgiving. Micah and Ethan are currently both dealing with colds and fevers. Isaac, while struggling with the remnants of a cold, is the best of all three. Yesterday I began to apparently get the cold of Ethan and Micah. Today it is Sarah's turn to start that journey.

Because Micah is still not better and consistently running fevers, he will begin two antibiotics today that will be given every 8 hours. Dr. Berman wants him to have a CT Scan tomorrow of his head and chest. But if he cannot get the CT Scan tomorrow, Dr. Berman wants him admitted into the hospital. We've made just over three months without a hospital admission or all night stay in the emergency department. Though I am thankful for what we've had, I don't wish it to come to an end now. Especially, I'd like to not spend this Christmas in the hospital as we did last Christmas.

Please pray for the general health and well being of our family. Pray for renewed strength and to get well soon. Also pray for a protective shield from future illnesses of any sort. Please pray for God to give wisdom to doctors regarding Micah's current illness and how best to care for him. Please pray for Sarah. But as always, pray most of all that through us God would be glorified.