Over the last six weeks, our family hosted and celebrated Thanksgiving, visited and welcomed visiting family, and attended kindergarten/preschool/church Christmas programs. My daughter turned four, my son turned eight, I hosted birthday parties for both of them, volunteered at my kids’ school, and now in just a few days, Christmas Day will both come and go.
Lunches have been packed, meals have been made, baths have been given. Words and glances have been exchanged, laundry was (or wasn’t) done, crumbs and toys and towels have been left on the floor until I pitched a fit.
Life has marched along, way too fast for the beat of this drummer.
And after it all, Christmas will come.
Maybe the last six weeks held joy for you, and maybe they held pain. Perhaps both. Either way, Christmas will come.
Maybe the last six weeks held cleaning, baking and hosting, wrapping, decorating, and movie nights. Maybe the last six weeks have been idyllic and beautiful and storybook. At their happy ending, Christmas will come.
Maybe the last six weeks held hard things. Floods of memories, too many to hold in your heart so you eat, you run, you sleep, you shop — you cope. Waves of disappointment, in family and friends and yourself and though this season is supposed to be full of thankfulness and peace, you felt neither. On a day when you’d rather stay in bed, Christmas will come.
Maybe the last six weeks held busy. Drop-off, pick-up, work. All the everyday that grinds and rubs wrong and blesses all at once. A kid may have thrown up, and you most likely stepped on a bunch of Legos. You held every tiny detail together and juggled too many invisible, unseen, under-appreciated plates. You shopped and wrapped and got dressed for church. Your back ached, and the kids didn’t sleep all night, and family drama ensued, and you’ve been the glue that holds all the moving pieces together. Especially when there just aren’t enough hours in a day, Christmas will come.
Maybe the last six weeks held feelings of loss, of abandonment. Maybe you experienced a parting of ways in a relationship. Maybe you felt as though God was taking (or has taken) things away from you. Maybe you felt as if the holidays couldn’t possibly arrive in your house, in your heart, because you have no room and nothing to give. Even — maybe especially — when you’re running on empty and full of disappointment, Christmas will come.
Christmas came to a peasant girl in first century Palestine.
Christmas came to a world steeped in sin.
Christmas came to a barn in the middle of the night. Christmas came to a feeding trough.
Christmas is bigger than anything standing in our way because Christmas is Jesus. And Jesus comes to us in all walks, in all times, in all capacities. Jesus comes to us in pain, in joy, in despair and anguish, in everyday apathy, in seasons of wealth and seasons of pennies. He doesn’t diminish our situation or feelings but faithfully meets us right where we are. Whether overwhelmed, underwhelmed, overworked, under-appreciated, over it, under it, Jesus arrives to be with us.
Whether we got the pies baked and gifts bought, whether the dust bunnies are thriving or the house is clean, whether our schedules are jam-packed or clear, whether our spirits are bright or our hearts are heavy, Christmas will come. Jesus will come. He is with us already, Immanuel in our everyday.
Jesus is Immanuel in our everyday. -@annaerendell: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Anna,
What beautiful truth – Christmas will still come. Jesus will still come. In fact, if we are hurting or going through pain or trials, Jesus’ coming is all the more needed, all the more profound. The rest of the world, if given the chance, will forsake us or at the very least disappoint us at some juncture. Jesus is the love that comes and STAYS. No matter what twists and turns our lives take, His love and presence are constant, abiding, comforting. May we all embrace this truth when Christmas comes…and stays.
Christmas blessings,
Bev xx
So very grateful that I can’t do anything to stop it’s — His — coming. Merry Christmas, Bev.
What popped into my head as I read your hopeful words, Anna, is the words, Lo, I am with you always.”
From Jesus.
Just as it looked as if he was about to launch from the top of a mountain?
And yet it’s true,and the truth of Emmanuel is good and still a safe handhold for the days of our busiest love.
Blessings to you!
Yes Michele, what a great message He gave us in those words!
What a beautiful reminder of this special time of year! Thank you for sharing your wonderful words with us. So true. Christmas will come!
Thank you Peggy. May yours be merry!
I love this. Anna.
Last year during this season we lost both of my in-laws. Only 10 days apart.
Last month my husband had an emergency heart procedure.
So much pain, hurt, and stress. I’m ready to welcome Christmas, rather I have done all of the chores or not. Christmas reminds me that all is well and Jesus is always here. Remembering that Jesus is the reason for the reason is key. Merry Christmas and many blessings to y’all.
Oh Jen, grief doesn’t take a break for the holidays does it. I’m so sorry. Thank you for sharing here today.
Stunning. EVERY.SINGLE.WORD.
All perfectly placed to let this wife, mom & GiGi of a family of 17, that all is well and Christmas will come. Above all, I plan to take mental snapshots, drink in the moments, (even the fights over the cool new robot) and be grateful, that no matter what, I am His.
Merry Merry to your sweet family!
Thank you so much, Kim. Take those mental snapshots and I will be doing the same!! Merry Christmas Eve, eve!
Anna,
The last six weeks have been a blur of emotions & trials. The Friday before Thanksgiving my FIL was back in hospital. Monday before he came home only to die a few hours later. Right after Thanksgiving we had the funeral. Time has been spent making phone calls for, to & visiting MIL. In the midst of all that I got a cold & have kept it. I think it’s finally going away though (yay!!) Life has gone on. Our church held a live nativity last weekend & I’ve done a little shopping here & there. Most years at this time I haven’t thought or cared much about Christmas. This year seems different. Maybe the true meaning of Christmas is hitting me. Jesus leaving the splendor of Heaven to come to broken Earth. He was wrapped in bandages or grave clothes & laid in a feeding trough. Each year ready or not Christmas comes & goes. It is what you do with it that counts!
Blessings 🙂
Oof Beth, that’s a lot. I hope the peace of Jesus birth fills your heart today and throughout the season.
Beth, I am so sorry you have had so much to deal with; but God gives us strength when we feel like we cannot go on..Glory! I believe that Christmas is the most important day of the whole year because God made a way for us to go to Him & you now have several loved ones with Him because of His making the way! May He give you His peace that passes all understanding.
At first I thought you were describing my December, including birthdays for my kids! A busy time for sure. I definitely tried to be mindful this year of how much I was doing and made sure to cut back so my family could have some breathing room. Doing two different birthday parties last year was too much, so my kids shared one. They loved it. It wasn’t what I imagined, but I have to deal with what I have, including every year celebrating Christmas and kids birthdays.
Thank you for this reminder of what the season is really about; what matters most. It’s all for Jesus!
Man these holiday kiddos add so much work to the already fullness!! Love the idea of a joint party, too. Genius. Merry merry to you and yours, Heather!
on Xmas eve sitting in church I always take a huge sigh…thankyou silent night all is Holy..im thankful the mad rush of perfection & expectation is over and I can finally celebrate the King.
I always promise myself to lighten the load next year so I’m not exhausted or grouchy by the time it comes to worship. each year I’m getting more mature in age and learning that not everything needs doing or cleaning..christmas will come. thank you for your write up so true !! have a wonderful relaxing God- filled holiday.
Oh that sigh is one of the best parts of the whole day. I love it. Enjoy, Krissy!!