If there is anything that Christmas says it is:  God doesn’t remain at a distance and send from afar an angel or prophet or priest to this world to do His deeds of salvation.  He comes Himself:  v. 9 – In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.  As we reflect over this past year it would do us well to consider the “kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised.”  When has God come to lift and carry us... (as v. 9 describes:  he lifted them up and carried them)?