I like decorating for Christmas.
I like baking for Christmas.
I like planning and gifting for Christmas.
I like Christmas.
Anticipation
Preparation
I guess that is why when I read or hear people say that it
is all just too much, and cut and slice and reduce and abbreviate and try to
make it less than what it is; what it should be, I’m sad. I read so much on the internet right now by people
who are stressing and complaining about the holiday preparation, the burden of
it. No time to do it, to hurried, to stressful, too expensive, TOO MUCH WORK!!
It upends us. It messes with our routines, and our
schedules.
Nothing has changed. It messed with schedules when Jesus was
born over 2000 years ago too.
Zechariah and Elizabeth had settled into a routine of NOT
having children.
Joseph and Mary had settled into the ritual and preparation
for betrothal and subsequent marriage.
Then……
There were questions—then a silencing.
There were doubts—then a Word.
There was faith—then deliverance.
And there was birth—then Rejoicing!
If Christmas upends you, if it stresses you, if it all seems
too much, stop and think about Elizabeth, and Mary, and Zechariah and Joseph. Maybe
we are too settled into our routines; maybe Christmas comes every year to
jostle us out of those routines, those rituals of time to remind us who IS
time; really.
For someone important is coming.
But in the midst of all that, I can’t forget that He is
already here. In the midst of all that, He IS all that.
Because if He isn’t, then all that is just decorating and
baking and……burdensome.
You can’t stop His coming anymore than Elizabeth and
Zechariah, or Joseph and Mary could.
He is coming. He is HERE!
“Now when these things begin to happen, look
up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”--
Luke 21:28
