Reader
Twenty days have passed in December ALREADY?!?!
Are you resonating with me in disbelief?
I've had all intentions of slowing down and resting in this advent season, reflecting on the celebration of our saviors birth, I bet you have too. I even wrote an article about it Celebrating the Holidays wit Beautiful Boundaries in The Sisterhood Magazine.
But.....I admit it's much easier to write it out in words than to put it into complete seamless practice.
Friend, here is THE GOOD NEWS ......Jesus comes and redeems all things (pun intended)!!
That is what this season is all about.
So imagine yourself in this story with me:
In the midst of the holiday preparations you are exhausted, maybe even frazzled. All you want is some time to enjoy the people around you, and YES Jesus! There may even be that one person you desperately want help from so that you can enjoy this time together.
Taking a deep breath and wiping tears from your face, you cross the kitchen to the open door where all the guests are. Scanning the room, you find your sister right in the middle of the group discussion. Desperately you try to make eye contact. Instead, Jesus meets your gaze, rises from his seat and approaches you.
Your heart rate grows louder in your ears, nearly reaching panic mode. You didn’t mean to disturb your most revered guest, but he sensed your frustration and overwhelm from across the room. His compassionate eyes meet yours as he places his gentle yet firm hand on your shoulders. He stands for a quiet moment, allowing his warm, sympathetic presence to draw out your true emotions.
Lines of anger and irritation surface your brows as you begin to speak. “I know this doesn't matter much to you that my sister has left me to prepare alone, but maybe if you excuse her from your teaching she will come help me.”
“My dear,” Jesus says, “I see that you are anxious and frustrated by these things. But all the fuss is not necessary. Your sister has chosen to fellowship with us. I can't take that away from her.”
Our intentions are good. We start out with joy and want to operate in our gifts, but often misjudge our capacity and overextend ourselves. This misalignment is what causes our hearts to turn towards dread, sometimes blaming others or feeling alone in our “good" efforts.
So how do we change this? How do we approach the next five days as a joyous season and create peace foe ourselves without stressing over what we think it “should” look like?
It's not too late, if you have not yet taken the time to sit in the presence of Jesus, to marvel in the Christmas message of HOPE....
I invite you to join us today (and the next 4 days) in this celebration of advent with a condenced version of born with the broken devotional.
You'll receive these devotionals in your inbox for the next 5 days, starting today!
OR view them online from my blog HERE.