The world rushes by you—a flurry of last minute shoppers—pushing, stressing to get it all done. You look around and see the harsh florescent lights, thick mall crowds and crammed parking lots. You listen and hear tinny, overplayed Christmas songs, car horns, and toddlers crying.
Have you lost your holiday spirit? If so, take a Christmas Break!
Close your eyes and imagine the stillness of that holy night so long ago. The soft crackle of dirty hay, the rustling of nearby animals, the sound of a mother’s tired sigh. A holy child sleeps in a messy manger. The only decoration is the light of a beautiful star set in the heavens by God’s own hand.
So simple, yet so holy.
We, however, press for perfection. We want the perfect presents for the perfect holiday. We long for a perfect marriage, perfect children and a perfect life. We want to orchestrate every detail of Christmas, but life is… messy at best.
What we’ll miss, if we don’t stop, is this:
The beauty of Christmas is always found in the messiness of life,
just like it was the night Christ was born.
The night when Joseph rushed to find a room for Mary, but failed, and when a dirty manger served as a newborn bed.
In the mess of life we find astounding beauty. In the simplest moments, we find holiness. If we move too fast, we’ll miss them completely.
Mary opened her heart to accept the impossible task God placed before her. For Mary, motherhood wasn’t neat nor easy. It did not conform to the expectations of motherhood by those around her. It was at best … messy.
Yet Mary’s desire to glorify God despite hardship was beautiful.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
If your Christmas holiday is messy, then let it be messy! Look for the beauty in the mess.
Have a Merry, Messy Christmas!
Kelly Langston
Latest posts by Kelly Langston (see all)
- Have a Merry, Messy Christmas! - December 22, 2015
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