A Merry and Messy Christmas

 First, an absolute shout to my brother (Pre-Pastor) Daniel and Pastor Brian for reminding me that Christmas is messy and merry. (Yes, Gertrude did learn a thing or two).  Of course Christmas has its merry times and I am truly so glad that it did for me this year.  But I missed the boat (again) this year.  I focused so much on making Christmas as MERRY as possible that I forgot how Jesus arrived on this Earth.  I focused so much on making Christmas MERRY for everyone by completing my Pinterest December list, making treats and snacks, and having the right outfits.  Sadly...this year I thought I actually was doing it right because my activities were more Christ centered than secular.  While this is good, my focus was still more on the MERRY than the Christ child.

Beautiful baby Jesus, the perfect son of GOD, who came to redeem ME from my ugly sin was born in a stinky, dirty, animal filled stable.  After Jesus was born, he was wrapped in the only clean cloths that Mary and Joseph had and was laid in a bed of straw that animals had been eating from.  There were no Clorox wipes, bleach, or Norwex cloths to be found.  Then Jesus was visited by shepherds who had been out in the fields and brought there sheep with them.  Followed by the wisemen who road stinky camels that spit for miles and miles.  Not exactly the hospital guests I would have invited in to see nonetheless hold my newborn!

For Jesus was born into a MESSY world.  Jesus was born into a world full of hate, evil, and sin.  Jesus was born into a world where a king killed baby boys by the hundreds and Rachel wept and could not be consoled.  Jesus was born into a world where his mother and father had to run in the middle of a cold night to an unfamiliar and foreign country so Jesus would not be killed.  Jesus was exiled by age 2.  Jesus was born into a world of unbelievers where people cared more for themselves than for others or God.

And that's the world that Jesus was born into this year at Christmas.  I still live in a world where babies are killed, people suffer from lack of food, clothing, and love, and people are more selfish than selfless.   This is when I realize, Christmas isn't just about painting, making ornaments, and cookie decorating....it's about looking around at the mess we still live in and still finding joy, peace, love, and a Savior.

I still completely support singing the Christmas hymns that bring such joy to my heart, and practicing the traditions that bring such a twinkle to my children's eyes.  I should celebrate that Jesus is born and saves us.    But next year, I'm going to try and remember that the stable is not far from the cross.  The clean cloth that Jesus was wrapped in was all too quickly used to clean the blood and sweat off Jesus on the cross.   That's not merry and messy.  All because of the first two letters of both of those words....ME.  Because I sin, because I don't get it, Jesus came into this world as a baby to save ME.  To GOD be the glory, right?  His love endures forever!