And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.Luke 2:17-20 A Canadian pastor wrote about a Christmas Eve service in the 1800s when a thunderstorm unleashed a bolt of lightning that plunged the church into darkness. The pastor handed out candles to everyone present. People lit their candles in much the same way as many churches do on Christmas Eve, each person lighting the candle of the person next to them. The worshipers then made their way through the church's winding hallways to the front door. Peering out, they could see the rain coming down in sheets. They soon realized that the entire city was in darkness. There in the darkness they stood, a little band of Christians, each clutching a light, not sure whether to venture out into the storm or stay inside the church in hopes that the storm would soon blow over. He said, "It occurred to me then that this is the temptation I face every day. It is easy to play it safe and be a good Christian in church. It is a lot harder to venture out in faith into the storms of the world.”The real message of Jesus' birth is not just for us and our benefit alone, but for us to share with others as well. In a time of darkness, the light shines more brightly. Sharing that light with others is God's plan for each of our lives. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).