Christmas Craziness

As Christmas draws near, my to-do list is never-ending. I still have presents to purchase before Christmas celebrations this weekend, plenty to wrap, and one four-year-old child who is practically vibrating from excitement and the endless sugar he keeps getting at parties.

As a busy mom, this is the week that it's hardest to remember that there is anything else going on besides "Christmas craziness." A lot of you know this well: between sicknesses, mourning, and celebrating, things are busy! We have something nearly every night this week.

This is your annual reminder that Advent is defined as the arrival of someone important. Even as a pastor I can easily forget that we are observing the season of Advent or what it really means. It's not a word that we casually use often in the English language. In this time leading up to Christmas we are supposed to be preparing for the arrival of baby Jesus. But how can we prepare for Christ when the demands of Christmas are so great?

So here's the challenge this week. Take a minute to prepare your heart for Christ to be born. Carve out five or ten minutes from the bustle and maybe light a candle. Turn to Luke 1 and read the ways his birth is foretold. Read how Mary prepared for Christ and how God prepared the world with John. Notice what stands out to you. What do you need this week to make room for Jesus? Where can you find space for the arrival of this important person?

Let's not let the chaos of this week distract us form this good thing—Christ is being born into this world!