How Holiday Busts Also Tell the Christmas Message

2 Comments on How Holiday Busts Also Tell the Christmas Message
(Inside: God even speaks through the holiday bumps.)

Sometimes, the most annoying-not-as-we-planned-it moments in the holiday season best tell the true meaning of Christmas.

 

Here’s what got me thinking about this. I was editing these photos thinking: These are lovely. I love Christmas.

 

I almost forgot about the kiddos juggling ornaments, breaking ornaments, and the sobbing because for whatever the reason, our dare-devil son got scared when his dad lifted him up to put the angel on the tree. (That picture didn’t turn out as planned.) Usually decorating is one of our favorite things to do. But this year, we were off. Grumpy, off. Not much fun, off.


But, do you know what? Even though I can get in my head how perfectly I want our holiday, memory-making moments to play out, this holiday bust didn’t bother me.

 

Lately, I haven’t minded all of life’s everyday bumps and imperfections. Maybe because I’ve noticed that no matter how many lists, conversations, or prepping we do, most things don’t ever go fully as planned. Flawlessness is elusive. Impossible. It can’t be accomplished. There might be a message in that. Perhaps that’s our everyday proof that God means what He says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

All of the everyday, unavoidable bumps remind us that perfection is not God’s message. Instead, we are held in the palm of His hand because of His grace. When we stand in front of Jesus and say: Please God, I need you. Walk this life with me. He always says: yes. We are loved by Him simply because He created us. Oh, sweet grace.
 
So, bring on the photo-worthy moments of Christmas. But also, bring on the holiday busts. The moments that remind us grace is needed abundantly on this earth. Because those moments too can remind us of the kind of grace we already have. Free. Bountiful. Gifted to us through a baby in a manager by a God who deeply loves us.
 
May you have a wonderful Christmas. I hope you really enjoy it. Every single bumpy and wonderful moment of it.
 


 

 


 

 

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

 

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