About the appearing of God's love for us:

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (KJV)

Psalm 65:4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. (NIV)

The birth of Jesus was a time when God and God's love appeared upon the earth in the form of a human being. If we were alive at the time of His birth, and if we were standing at His manger scene, we could view Him and we would be immersed in the awe and wonder of His love. Although we are not alive to see Him in swaddling clothes, we can still be filled with His love. Of all the experiences we can have at Christmas, coming close to Christ and His love for us is a pinnacle moment. As we come near to His love we find God made His love in the form of His infant Son to give us a hope when we have no hope. God made Jesus appear to us to help us through the dark times of our life. In the radiance of Christ's manger, our joy at Christmas overflows because we are thinking of giving instead of taking. In the radiance of Christ's manger our joy at Christmas overflows because we are thinking and doing for others rather than thinking and doing for ourselves. With the appearing of God's love in the form of His only Son came His mercy, His forgiveness, and His compassion.