Well, I suppose the title is a little out of character for me, but facts are facts. On December 4 I am already tired. The house isn't completely decorated yet, there are still gifts to purchase for grandchildren, the cooking and the baking and all the womanly responsibilities that go with the season … I run out of breath just thinking about it all!
We have our family Christmas this next weekend and I can't begin to count how much is left to do to prepare for it. With 13 (going on 14) grandchildren waiting to see what goodies Nana and Papa are bringing, we can't let them down. Our adult children haven't been together for an entire year … do you know what it means to this Mama to have all her youngin's under the same roof again? My heart is about to burst!
But, why do we put ourselves through this year after year after year? Every year it seems like the season comes faster and every year it seems harder and harder to go through the process of tree, decorations, wreaths, candles, nativities, and lights. Why? What's the purpose of it all anyway? If it's so hard, why do we bother?
Thanks! I'm glad you asked, partly because I need the reminder—we all do! The reason why has more to do with 'The Reason Who' than anything.
As I was reading in Isaiah 7 last night and saw the promise of Immanuel who would bring true deliverance to God's people, I got my reality check … the one I needed—the one I need every Christmas season. The trees, boxes of decorations, lights, candles, and wreaths, although somewhat symbolic, stand in the shadow of the True Light, the Messiah, the King, born of a virgin—the seed of woman (Huh? Only men have seed!)—such a miracle birth of unprecedented enormity. A birth that continues to impact this world thousands of years later. Surely, Jesus is "The Reason Who".
When my focus is turned once again to Him, when the songs of the ancients reel through my heart point to the magnificent glory of such an advent, I am assured that there is indeed good reason for my labors of love.
Yesterday as I was decorating our tree, I found myself singing (I always do that when I'm alone—no one else would want to hear it!). Sometimes songs just bubble up out of nowhere and I'm not even aware of what I'm singing until I stop to listen. Yesterday's song eludes me right now, but I can already feel a new song today—I don't even know all the words, but the words that speak to me are the words I remember. I just take some liberties and make up the rest of the words to reflect the praise in my heart. And, really, there's so much to praise God for! Jesus! He's the Answer! He's the Reason! He's Everything! He fills in the blanks when the praise is directed toward Him.
Jesus: He brings sanity in my insane world. Jesus: He makes my songs complete. Jesus: He gives me the strength to press on during these weeks of Christmas activities with family and church and friends and loved ones. Jesus: His Presence energizes me and makes everything all right!
Today and tomorrow as I prepare for our weekend with the family, I'll continue to reflect on the Deliverer who touched this earth with His holy Presence as a babe born to a virgin girl who gave her permission to God to use her as He saw fit … "Be it unto me according to Your will." I can't imagine the sacrifice she made to simply be obedient to Yahweh. Her time of preparation for the birth of the Son of God demanded things of her we'll never understand. Yet, she did it—with contentment in her heart knowing that the Babe she was carrying was indeed the Deliverer the prophets had spoken of hundreds of years before.
Enjoy your Christmas preparations this year. Enjoy your family and your friends and the times of fellowship together. But never … NEVER forget Jesus: The Reason Who! You may be like me and feel like your energies are already expended before the season really begins. But focusing on remembering not only "why" but "WHO" gets me through and it will you, too!
Have a blessed Christmas season. May all your toil be a labor of love because of Jesus: The Reason Who!
__________
© 2007 Jan Ross
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1 comment:
I know how stressful the holidays can be, and its wonderful when you are able to put things back into perspective! I found a very simple way to ease stress as far as entertaining and gift giving is concerned. I just recieved the Limited Edition Christmas Classic DVD set from work, I work with them so I got my copy early. Its a great way to spread cheer and spend time with the little ones. It has several movies, "Frost they Snowman", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer","Santa Claus is coming to Town", and "The Little Drummer boy", to name a few. It also features a holidy music cd. You can find it anywhere they sell DVDs or you can check out http://www.christmasclassics.tv, Merry Christmas!
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