Luke 2 is probably the gospel account of Jesus' birth which you most often see recounted. This year, I am really struck by Verse 20 of it. Here's The Message translation of verse 20:

"The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!"

First, I really like the word "sheepherders". Isn't that a great word in comparison to "shepherds"?

But after that, what really strikes me about this verse in this translation is that the sheepherders "let loose". Isn't that great? First of all, even the sheepherders saw and knew that this was not an ordinary baby. Yes, they'd had a message from an angel. Yes, they'd seen the star. But they had still traveled to see this infant ... to check out what the hoopla was all about. And immediately, they had confirmation of what they'd been told and of what those prophecies had been about. They saw and they knew ... they "let loose".

It got me to thinking ... when was the last time I "let loose" for God? My life is full of proof of God's love for and faithfulness to me. I also hear stories of others all the time in whose lives God has wrought amazing things. But do I "let loose" about it?

May 2008 be the year when I begin to follow the sheepherders and "let loose" about God and His son. In fact, may we all "let loose" this Christmas and forever more!