The Ripple Effect of Joy
Kelly Cooper explores the message of joy described in the Gospel of Luke and how the unexpected birth of a child in a stable many years ago continues to resonate and create meaningful ripples in our lives today.
I have a vivid memory of cradling my first child in my arms just minutes after her birth. In that precious moment, a whirlwind of emotions swept through me: wonder, hope, gratitude and an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Our most cherished gift had finally arrived, and she was nothing short of miraculous.
The news of her birth spread like wildfire. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and even distant relatives rushed to meet her and share in our joy. Emails and gifts poured in from friends and family from around the world. We even received a congratulatory card from my husband’s grandmother’s next-door neighbour! It seemed that the good news of our daughter’s arrival travelled fast and that people from all corners of our lives wanted to be part of our excitement and happiness.
Mary’s joy
I wonder if Mary, the mother of Jesus, experienced a similar sense of joy as she cradled her newborn son on that first Christmas night. Did she gaze upon her baby’s face, marvelling at his fluttering eyelids, his perfect, delicate lips and his soft rhythmical breathing? In that moment, I bet she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her heart overflowing with love for this baby in her arms.
The birth of Jesus took place in a stable in Bethlehem. There was nothing perfect about this scenario for an expectant mother. Exhausted from travelling on a donkey and ready to give birth, a stable was probably not what Mary had hoped for. Maybe the scent of barn animals caught her attention as she entered that humble abode. Perhaps she grimaced as she lay on the dirty floor. She may have shivered in the cold night air as she laboured. But I imagine the moment she held her son it all faded away and her entire focus was only on him.
Moments of joy are often like that—sudden, intense and overwhelming. Our senses heighten, and words often fail to capture the depth of our feelings. Joy becomes an all-encompassing experience, touching every part of our being, and Jesus’ birth was no different. His arrival not only brought joy to Mary and Joseph, God intended for his gift to be shared with the world. The birth of this baby started a ripple effect which we can experience today.
Ripples
If you have ever tossed a stone into a calm body of water, you will have seen the ripples last long after its initial impact. A single event can set in motion a chain reaction. The Christmas story began in a similar way. God chose to spread the good news by sending an angel to shepherds in a field, who understandably were initially terrified. Luke 2:10b tells us the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people’. These shepherds were told that this news was so amazing that it would bring joy to everyone.
And so, the ripples of joy began. Eager not to miss out on the excitement, the shepherds journeyed to Bethlehem, where they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. The birth of Jesus was so remarkable that they couldn’t keep it to themselves. They shared the angel’s message with everyone they encountered. It’s not difficult to imagine the shepherds’ reports of Jesus’ birth being repeated and repeated.
A beautiful aspect of joy is its contagious nature. It is nearly impossible to contain our enthusiasm when we have something exciting to share. When we recall the times we have experienced joy in our lives it is almost always in the company of others. Joy has the powerful ability to multiply when it’s shared.
We may never know the effect of our small and seemingly insignificant actions. The ripples of our words and behaviour can extend far beyond their initial impact. That’s what sharing the Christmas story does. It allows the good news to radiate outwards, ensuring that the birth of a single child can continue to make a life-changing difference.
Joy in the unexpected
That first Christmas, God surprised everyone in more ways than one. No one was looking for the son of God in a stable in Bethlehem. Joy existed without beautifully arranged table settings, Santa-themed decorations or perfectly hung stockings. In every way, Jesus’ arrival in the world was unexpected but the circumstances of his arrival did not diminish the joy.
Our cherished traditions and rituals can bring delight, creating expectations and fond memories of the Christmas season. However, often our most significant moments require far less effort and reveal themselves amid the ordinary. The Christmas story reminds us that perfection is not a prerequisite for joy to exist. We can all discover and savour joy in the unexpected and the ordinary, just as the shepherds did in a stable in Bethlehem.
This is the essence of Christmas joy: a precious gift from God that we can share with others. The ripple effect of Jesus’ birth continues in our world, long after his arrival. Jesus invites us to meet him in the unexpected story of Christmas. We are welcomed to participate alongside those who first experienced the joy of his birth—Mary, Joseph, the angels and the shepherds. As we celebrate this Christmas, may we continue to spread the good news with joy and to uncover the delight waiting to be discovered in the ordinary.
