Over the next six weeks, our family will host and celebrate Thanksgiving, visit and welcome visiting family, and attend kindergarten/preschool/church Christmas programs. My daughter will turn 2, my son will turn 6, I’ll have my moms group from church over to my house for a movie night, volunteer at my kids’ school, and Christmas Day will both come and go.
{This seems like a good place to insert the ‘it’s never too early to talk about Christmas’ disclaimer. In high school, I was in the colorguard. My coach’s favorite saying was, “To be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late.” Talking about Christmas is the only example in which her saying makes sense to me, a woman who is perpetually 3-5 minutes late, because if we don’t prepare ourselves for the season before it begins, it’s too late. There. Disclaimed. Onward we go.}
Lunches will be packed, meals will be made, baths will be given. Words and glances will be exchanged, laundry will (or won’t) be done, crumbs and toys and towels will be left on the floor until I pitch a fit.
Life will march along, way too fast for the beat of this drummer.
And after it all, Christmas will come.
Maybe the next six weeks will hold joy for you, and maybe they’ll hold pain. Perhaps both. Either way, Christmas will come.
Maybe the next six weeks will hold cleaning, baking and hosting, wrapping, decorating, and movie nights. Maybe the next six weeks will be idyllic, and beautiful, and storybook. At its happy ending, Christmas will come.
Maybe the next six weeks will hold 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 this season that’s supposed to be full of thankfulness and peace — only you feel neither. On a day when you’d rather stay in bed, Christmas will come.
Maybe the next six weeks will hold busy. Drop-off, pick-up, work. All the everyday dailiness that grinds and rubs wrong and blesses, all at once. A kid might throw up and you’ll most likely step on a bunch of Legos. You’ll hold every tiny detail together, and juggle too many invisible, unseen, under-appreciated plates. You’ll shop and wrap and get dressed for church. Your back will ache and the kids won’t sleep all night and family drama will ensue and you will be 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 next six weeks will hold feelings of loss, of abandonment. Maybe you’ll experience a parting of ways in a relationship. Maybe you’ll feel as though God is taking (or has taken) things away from you. Maybe you’ll feel 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 1st 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. Overwhelmed, underwhelmed, overworked, under-appreciated, over it, under it… He arrives to be with us.
Whether we get the pies baked and gifts bought, whether the boxes are still unpacked 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. God will come. He is with us already, Immanuel in our everyday.
by Anna Rendell, author of A Moment of Christmas
Leave a Comment
Michele Morin says
Every Christmas, I look at the calendar and think that during that 25-ish day season, I will prepare at least 75 regular meals in addition to all the holiday baking. School will happen, laundry will somehow get done, the house will be (sort of) cleaned and in the midst of all that somehow we will decorate and celebrate. It’s wonderful to be reminded (early!) that Jesus came to dwell with us in the ordinary.
Blessings to you (wow, 2 birthdays!) as you celebrate the entire season!
Anna Rendell says
It’s full, that’s for sure, but it’s also so wonderful!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Anna,
My dad used to say that about being “early and on time”….boy do I miss him! Love your loved ones while they are still here…..
So true that when people say, “Christmas is just around the corner,” my first inclination is to groan and say, “Oh, but I’m not ready….not yet.” Your post is a perfect reminder that Christmas WILL come and it’s not about mall decorations, or my decorations, or baked cookies, or sending Christmas cards, or having parties, it’s about JESUS. Christmas WILL come. Jesus WILL come. He’ll come to us no matter what shape or condition we are in – no matter what our circumstances are, and isn’t that a reason to rejoice and say “Jesus is coming!” He came once for mankind and we denied Him, but in His love He took our sins and rose again so that the next time He comes, we will have an eternity in paradise with Him. May the next time someone says, “Christmas is coming,” may my response be Hallelujah and praise!! You really gave me a much needed attitude adjustment, Anna. Thank you and God bless you!
Blessings,
Bev
Anna Rendell says
I never knew anyone else who said that – your dad is redeeming the saying for me 🙂 Bless you, Bev!
Kim B Smith says
Anna,
I say a lot, will have mountain plate full of stuff and we add more because Christmas is just around the corner. We exhaust ourselves to the nth degree not to even enjoy Christmas not to mention the true meaning of Christmas=Jesus. Christmas will come and Christmas will go, I believe we need to all slow down, release the perfection and really enjoy the true meaning of Christ(mas)
Great post!
Brenda says
Gorgeous, Anna. Thank you. ♥
Anna Rendell says
Thank you for being here so faithfully, Brenda.
Janet says
Beautiful!!
Anna Rendell says
Thank you, Janet!
Rebecca L Jones says
Somehow it always manages to be hectic but I always loved it. Now, I have had to slow it down a little, hoping I can get back up to speed.
karen says
I LOVE this, Anna! It is such a clear reminder of where our priorities should be. THANKS!!!! Have great holiday season and may this be your theme song!
Anna Rendell says
Thank you, Karen!
Beth Williams says
Anna,,
I know Christmas is around the corner, but I prefer to have one holiday at a time. Don’t rush Christmas. I want Thanksgiving to come first. Relax & enjoy the day with family. You are spot on about Christmas coming whether we’re ready or not. This world is all about buying, getting, having. Most don’t know the real reason for Christmas-a baby born in a manger to save us!! We need to stop our business & turn our focus back on Him. This year will be a bit different for me. This is the first holiday without parents for me. My hubby has to work on Thanksgiving. I will be celebrating with his folks. For me holidays is more about helping people & being with family. Focusing on Jesus!! I have two favorite songs; “A Hallelujah Christmas” by Cloverton. “Christmas with a Capital C” by Go Fish. They both speak to me in different ways. Both talk about Jesus & the true meaning of Christmas!
Blessings 🙂