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Christianity, Christmas, dance, father, Gift, hope, Jesus, joy, Kingdom, love, Nutcracker, peace, restoration
The battle was over. Toys and glittering ornaments littered the floor. Clara and the Nutcracker were relieved. However, Nutcracker’s injuries proved to be fatal, and he collapsed. Clara wept. She had never quite loved anything as much as she loved Nutcracker.
Then she saw him stir. He leaned on one arm, pulled himself up and opened his eyes to find his appearance had changed; instead of a warring soldier, he was a peaceful prince with a beautiful magical kingdom awaiting him.
Clara asks, “Nutcracker, your kingdom must be far away. Do you have to leave?”
“I’ll always be with you. My kingdom is only as far as you think it is. In reality, it’s only a few steps away. Come and see.”
Like the Nativity Story, The Nutcracker emulates love, hope, peace, and joy. Clara’s story demonstrates the triumph of love over fear.
Her evening began with the excitement and anticipation of receiving a gift from her mysterious and dearly loved Godfather, who always gave the children homemade unique and fascinating gifts. When Nutcracker gets wounded during the festivities of the evening, Godfather is there to restore him.
Our loving heavenly Father is the giver of good gifts (James 1:17), and fills us with awe and wonder with his generosity. He loves us so much he gave us the gift of Jesus so we could live restored (John 3:16). He also was wounded, beaten and died a horrific death, but rose on the third day from the grave.
When Jesus appeared to Mary at the garden tomb, two men on the road to Emmaus, and the disciples on the beach of Galilee, they did not recognize him immediately because he looked different in all his glory (Jn 20:14-16, Luke 24:16, Jn 21:4).
Jesus now lives in the hearts of believers; He is always with us. When we rest in His extravagant love (the Bible calls this abiding), we too can step into the realm of His Kingdom where the impossible becomes possible.
I look forward to the return of Jesus Christ, our Savior; our storm will pass, and the world will be restored! “He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and eliminate death entirely. No one will mourn any longer. The pain of wounds will no longer exist, for the old order will have ceased”(Rev. 21:4, TPT).
Heaven on earth! I can see it now. The spiritual and natural realm will become one again. We will sit down to feast with the King and join people of all nations to celebrate the wedding of the Lamb. I feel sure there will be dancing!
Oh, what a day that will be! Come, Lord Jesus, come!