Jesus is the Life of the Party

Christmas week is on! Last-minute shopping, food prep, wrapping gifts and preparations for the arrival of Santa. That’s not the case in our little corner of the world this year. Perhaps it’s good for us to be “on-the-move” because it causes us to relate to others who are also “on-the-move” like our armed forces who won’t make it home this year or families who are standing vigil in hospitals with ill loved ones and others who are having to work right through Christmas. Christmas traditions aren’t even a consideration in so many people’s lives.

It’s very different for us this year. What a surprise, after a year and half endeavoring to sell their home, my Frisco children’s home sold right here at Christmas and the buyer needed to close and move in by December 28th. That meant the hustle would be on to first, my children finding their next home, and then get them packed up.

Christmas miracles have come about, left and right, that assure us – God really is with us -- Emmanuel, and His ways are so much higher than ours. We see it now as the perfect time -- right here at Christmas! Payton, their 19-year-old son seized this opportunity to “strike while the iron was hot” and lay claim to so many home furnishings that were going to be sold or given away. It was the perfect time to find an apartment in downtown Dallas where he works. On Saturday, they moved him to his new digs – almost fully furnished!

I loved my daughter’s “take” on this timing – right here at Christmas. She thought about Mary and Joseph being “on-the-move” to Bethlehem and needing a place to stay. For them – it really was ALL about Jesus, the Son of God, being born. And, so it should be for us. In years past, my Christmas traditions were such a big deal to me – every bedroom decorated with a lit tree, the inside and outside of the house looked like a Christmas store. I made dozens of cookies and candies to share with family and friends. I handwrote and mailed a flood of Christmas cards bearing my family's picture. I spent hours shopping for the just right gifts. Despite my best intentions to make Christ the center of our Christmas, hyper mode was my center for years.

As we took our Sabbath seriously yesterday and embraced the 4th Sunday of Advent, we came back to the "principle thing"! Personally, I recalibrated my thinking to God’s way of thinking which is the celebration of His Son. If I let myself think it’s about me, I’d be in a tizzy that my Christmas traditions weren’t being kept. Here’s the deal – our lives, this season, our wants, our desires should be wrapped around THE ONE Who we celebrate. I'm determining in the midst of this “moving” marathon, to still keep my focus on Jesus' birthday. As I packed up a beautiful Holy Family figurine set yesterday, I realized that figurine didn’t mean I was putting away Jesus. It was just a figurine. It’s ALL about the LIFE and Star of the Christmas Story, Mary's baby boy, Who grew up to be our great I AM. "I AM" is our protector, our healer, our strength, our joy giver, our way-maker, truth-finder and our peace-provider.

If you've been like me -- whether in an utter frenzy-mode to this point, or in a little whiny mode about the changes in your life and even disappointments about things being different than they once were, since it's His birthday, then we need to LET IT GO! (Thanks, Frozen!) We get to show up and celebrate Him. No matter how we decorate the house for His party or undecorate the house because we’re moving, it is still ALL ABOUT HIM Who is ALWAYS the LIFE of the party. And He has come to give life to all the people at the party. And, when we lean in even closer, we'll find that the LIFE of the party holds out Himself as the gift that keeps on giving. And the gift tag? It has our names on it. Oh, what a relief it is!

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
-- Jesus (John 10:10)

I Breathed a Sign of Relief

Day 355 of Photo Inspirations -- I Breathed a Sigh of Relief
In years past, my Christmas traditions started right after Thanksgiving.  I loved this time of the year so much that  I decorated every bedroom with it's own fully decorated, lit tree.  The inside and outside of the house looked like a Christmas Store.  I had several nativity sets throughout my house....after all -- I wanted Jesus to be prominent amidst all the Santa Clauses and snowmen.  I had a huge village of little houses and ice skating pond, trees, churches (lots of churches).  I made dozens of cookies and candies to share with family and friends.  I handwrote and mailed a flood of Christmas cards with my family's picture on it.  That was a "must do" every year -- getting the family Christmas picture at Thanksgiving.  I purchased way too many gifts.  I spent hours and hours shopping for just the right treasures to give.   Despite my best intentions to make Christ the center of our Christmas, hper mode was my mode of operation for years.

I never felt guilty about the flood of activity and way-too-much-attention to so many details. I loved this time of year so much that I gave it ALL I had.  The family traditions were so dear and precious to me. It was a work-out, but at the end -- we had made so many precious memories, and it was worth every effort.  But, today, my story takes a big turn.   Now I realize -- finding balance is the real key to having a very, merry Christmas.

Being in this "single" phase of life, it's a lot easier to simplify.   And, that's what I did this year. I have been determined to keep the focus on Jesus' birthday.  Yesterday, I made my way to Texas to celebrate with my family here for a few days before heading to my Washington family.  I'm breathing a sigh of relief -- shopping and baking and decorating is all done.   Because I had only 4 hours of sleep the night before, while the kids were at their Christmas program rehearsals, I snuck away to take a little nap.  I'm in that sweet season of life that I get to do that!     All the hustle and bustle has ended, and  now I can lean in to the real sweetness and tenderness of this season.  The principle thing is finding balance and spotlighting the STAR of the story.

If you've been like me -- whether in an utter frenzy-mode to this point, or we have taken a more laid back approach this year -- we can still live a guilt-free Christmas.  We really have nothing to prove to anyone, because we're already approved by Christ.  And, since it's His birthday.....we get to just show up and celebrate Him.  No matter how we decorate the house for His party, it is still ALL ABOUT HIM, Who is ALWAYS the life of the party.   And He has come to give life to all the people at the party.  And, when we lean in even closer, we'll find that the LIFE of the party holds out Himself as the gift that keeps on giving.  And the gift tag?    It has our name on it.  Oh, what a relief it is!
“See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” ~ Isaiah 49:16