This season is busy. There are Christmas cards to address and gifts to wrap. Cookies to bake and parties to attend. My house could use a good scrubbing before company arrives. But I’m not doing any of that right now.
I’m pausing in the presence of Christ.
(in)courage blogger Holley Gerth says that as a child, her family would reenact the Christmas story by candlelight. She played the role of Mary; her brother was Joseph. A baby doll in a toy crib was Jesus in the manger. They wore bathrobes made by their mother, and their father read Scripture.
It was simple. But so many years later, Gerth remembers this time of peace and wonder.
“...I think now, in the middle of the hustle and the busyness, the to-do lists and the calendar with its full boxes, that we got it right back then. That we knew so much more than I do now. Because what I remember from those times, more than anything else, is the feeling of being loved. The wonder of realizing Jesus came for me,” Gerth writes.
Pause and absorb that.
Jesus was born for me. For you. For undeserving sinners.
Gerth writes, “And all He wanted in return was for me to love Him back.”
The season’s glitz and glitter has dragged us away from this truth.
“I’ve complicated things somehow. I’ve made the story of Christmas about what I do: about how well I can tie bows, and choose party outfits, and make small talk. About how the table is set and the ham is cooked. About how I sing in the service and take notes from the sermon with my neat purple pen,” Gerth says.
Stop making Christmas about you. Stop making Christmas a competition to host the best Christmas party or give the best gift. Instead, accept Christmas for what it is: a celebration of the perfect gift given for you -- the love of Christ Jesus.
The angels said, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” (Luke 2:10-11)
Gerth interprets the good news like this: “Jesus came. We are loved. That is all.”
Crosswalk.com writer Julie Gillies says that now is the time to pause in the wonder of our perfect gift.
“What if we allowed our hearts to marvel at His unfathomable journey from eternity into an unassuming, most unroyal manger? What if we pondered the miracle of His birth and the reason behind it? What if we asked Him to fill our hearts to overflowing with the reality of the priceless gift of His presence?
“What if, instead of pinched stress across our faces, our families saw eyes that reflect our wonder-struck hearts?
“And what if this became our daily goal this holiday season? A holy pause. An exquisite time in His presence. A life-changing, refreshing time with the One the season is all about.”
The world says “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” should go by in a rush of twinkling lights and sparkly wrapping paper. I say I’m going to spend this time in the wonder of my most holy Lord.
Carrie Dedrick is an editor of Crosswalk.com. When she is not writing or editing, she can usually be found teaching dance classes, running marathons, or reading with at least one adopted dog on her lap.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: December 9, 2016