Two years ago, I celebrated my first Christmas. Never mind that I was thirty-one years old and had celebrated many Christmas seasons before. Spending it with my baby nephew Caleb changed my perspective completely.

I’ve pondered before how small God made Himself in order to save us, but I never knew just how small that truly was until I held Caleb for the first time in the hospital. I’d never known just how helpless Jesus became as a baby until I watched Caleb need someone to hear his every plea. I’d never thought about Jesus learning to explore the world He created until I watched Caleb study the amazing rug underneath him, fascinated by every fiber.

I’d never imagined our Lord as a baby with a meal smeared from one ear to the other—and loving every minute of it! Perhaps He’d enjoy it if we let ourselves be messy once in a while, too! I’d never known what it felt like to have a tired baby put his head on your heart, until Caleb. What must God feel when we are tired and do the same?

To look into his eyes, so bright and clear and full of joy and wonder—the joy and wonder our Father wants us all to hold on to, even when life makes it hard.

And watching Caleb learn—he tried so hard to crawl, and his parents applauded his every effort. It is so easy to picture God frowning or looking disappointed when I try something new and fail. Or, when I keep failing a lesson He’s taught me so many times. But, that’s not what Caleb’s parents felt at all; they praised his every attempt. Could it be that God does the same for me?

The joy that came with holding him, when he was contented to let me hold him, was wondrous. Such peace came with knowing he didn’t care about any of my shortcomings or failures, but just enjoyed being held by me—and that he loved me because I’m me. What a beautiful picture of our Savior’s limitless and unconditional love!

God shared a deeper understanding of His most precious Gift with me that special Christmas. I look forward to the Christmas when it will be my turn to share the story of His precious Gift with my nephew.