Christmas Messes
This is a photo of a pile of dirt. But not just any dirt, this is the dirt that accumulated in my kitchen/dining area in just 4 short days since I had last swiffered. It's remarkable, really.
God has apparently found humor in using cleaning to speak to me as of late... whether a dishcloth or a pile of dirt, some of my most introspective moments have occurred whilst cleaning. I'm beginning to think He has an underlying message he's attempting to get across (cleanliness is next to godliness, maybe?).
Anyway, I was grumbling at the messy state of my house, appalled at the amount of dirt that had shown up in just a few short days, when I realized something...there was a lot of joy to be found within this mess. Sprinkles from baking cookies with the kids, needles from our Christmas tree, leaves drug in from visiting family. Things I cherish dearly.
This Christmas season has felt different than others. So many hurting people - from school shootings, and lost loved ones to hurting marriages, financial difficulties and illness, there is so much pain to be found. At times it feels difficult to feel festive in the midst of the sadness around us. But I am coming to the realization that maybe that's the point. The Joy in the midst of the messes is where Christ can truly be found. He is, after all, our Emmanuel. He's our God with us. How often do we take that for granted?
An aspect of the Christmas Story that we often overlook amidst our celebrations is the decree Herod had put forth to kill all the baby boys. I cannot begin to imagine soldiers invading my home and taking my precious Colson from my arms. The amount of grief that permeated the Jewish communities during that time likely superseded even that of the recent tragedy in Connecticut. And yet, Jesus did not come to earth in a mighty form - he came as the most vulnerable - a baby - a baby boy even. This amazes me. From the very beginning, he inserted himself in the midst of the mess of our lives.
This Christmas, my heart's cry is for us to realize who Jesus really is - Our Emmanuel. As if that isn't enough, he is not just with us - because of the cross he is healing us, loving us and pursuing us with a passion strong enough to conquer even death itself! And the good news is that he starts our healing in the midst of the messes. If we look... He is there...there is Joy to be found! And that is reason to celebrate this Christmas!
God has apparently found humor in using cleaning to speak to me as of late... whether a dishcloth or a pile of dirt, some of my most introspective moments have occurred whilst cleaning. I'm beginning to think He has an underlying message he's attempting to get across (cleanliness is next to godliness, maybe?).
Anyway, I was grumbling at the messy state of my house, appalled at the amount of dirt that had shown up in just a few short days, when I realized something...there was a lot of joy to be found within this mess. Sprinkles from baking cookies with the kids, needles from our Christmas tree, leaves drug in from visiting family. Things I cherish dearly.
This Christmas season has felt different than others. So many hurting people - from school shootings, and lost loved ones to hurting marriages, financial difficulties and illness, there is so much pain to be found. At times it feels difficult to feel festive in the midst of the sadness around us. But I am coming to the realization that maybe that's the point. The Joy in the midst of the messes is where Christ can truly be found. He is, after all, our Emmanuel. He's our God with us. How often do we take that for granted?
An aspect of the Christmas Story that we often overlook amidst our celebrations is the decree Herod had put forth to kill all the baby boys. I cannot begin to imagine soldiers invading my home and taking my precious Colson from my arms. The amount of grief that permeated the Jewish communities during that time likely superseded even that of the recent tragedy in Connecticut. And yet, Jesus did not come to earth in a mighty form - he came as the most vulnerable - a baby - a baby boy even. This amazes me. From the very beginning, he inserted himself in the midst of the mess of our lives.
This Christmas, my heart's cry is for us to realize who Jesus really is - Our Emmanuel. As if that isn't enough, he is not just with us - because of the cross he is healing us, loving us and pursuing us with a passion strong enough to conquer even death itself! And the good news is that he starts our healing in the midst of the messes. If we look... He is there...there is Joy to be found! And that is reason to celebrate this Christmas!
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