The holidays can conjure up different feelings. There’s an excitement about seeing family, anticipation for people to open their gifts, a sense of accomplishment when the home is laced with greenery and lights. It’s a cozy “feeling” when it feels like Christmas is here. But, sometimes, those feelings aren't there.
Over the last couple of weeks, I heard several people say, "It just doesn't feel like Christmas this year." I couldn’t agree more. Those words exited my mouth several times, and the tone of my voice has not been "Christmasy" either. While the "feeling" might not be there, I have been convicted of reshaping my thinking.
Throughout the years, I have read the bible story talking about the true reason for the season. It's not about gifts under the tree, the Pinterest-worthy decorations, or even the massive feasts we cook for days to achieve. It's not even about getting together as a family. As a believer in Christ Jesus, Christmas is about recognizing and celebrating the birth of our Savior. It's a time to humble ourselves before the Lord. A time to say "Thank you" for His sacrifice and mercy. He came to this world to teach and redirect us back to His Father's word. He came to ultimately give Himself as the blood offering so we may live with Him eternally in heaven.
As a believer, I know this. I've sung the songs. I've been part of the Christmas pageants. But sometimes, I fall back into the trap of wanting the holiday to "feel" like the holidays. I want to have that "Christmas" feeling with a fully decorated house, Christmas gatherings, buying and wrapping presents, and being part of my usual family gatherings.
That didn't happen this year. No decorations, no parties, no gifts, no shopping, and no family gathering. December 25 looked like every other day of the year to me. Before I go any further, I want to be clear on this point, there is nothing wrong with having fun decorating a house, giving the gifts, or cherishing those family get togethers. Those are wonderful events that make life exciting. This Christmas though, the Lord had a lesson He wanted me to learn, and I am sharing that lesson with you, in case you’ve experienced those “less than Christmas” feelings or might experience those in the future.
My husband and I just moved to Austin, Texas. The Lord opened up an incredible opportunity for my husband to get a new job. This is an answer to a prayer we've been praying for four years. Praise Jesus! We spent the past couple of months packing and stressing out as we sold our house and searched for a spot to land in Austin, without having the opportunity to visit the area. We arrived two weeks before Christmas. We didn't have time to decorate. We don't even know where all our Christmas decorations are at this point. We didn't buy each other presents, and we couldn't attend any family events. I've been sad, grumpy, lonely, and depressed.
As I scrolled through social media posts, I would see the images of the empty manger, and the story of Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem. None of this is new to me. But the Lord knew there was something I needed to learn this Christmas season. He wanted me to think about Mary. So, let's think about her.
Mary was a teen girl when she was visited by the angel Gabriel. She was frightened just by the experience of seeing an angel in front of her! He told her not to be afraid, but to understand she found favor with God and would give birth to the Lord (Luke 1: 29-33). Mind boggling right there. I wonder if she said, “Wait, what, can you repeat that?”
After learning the news, she still had to tell Joseph and she wasn’t sure how he would react. She also knew people were going to talk behind her back because of this pregnancy. Talk about stress! I don’t know many adults who can handle this stress with grace, let alone a young teen girl.
Months go by and I can only assume there was preparation between her, Joseph, and her family on welcoming the baby. However, with weeks to go before the birth, Joseph and Mary are forced to leave on a nearly week-long journey to Bethlehem. All of their "nesting" and plans for the birth go out the window.
They are told to leave everything familiar to them, everything that is comfortable to them. As they are making this journey, she goes into labor. She doesn't have her home nearby or her mom to help her out. Can you imagine how scared she probably was? This young girl ends up in a dirty stable to give birth to the King of Kings with her new husband next to her. Nothing comfortable or familiar about this situation.
The Lord took Mary and Joseph miles away from any familiarity so the prophesy of His birth could come to fruition. He allowed two people to live out a never-before-seen miracle, in probably the most uncomfortable way.
Have you been in situations where comfort and familiarity are gone? Where you feel so out of place that you wonder why the Lord has placed you where he did?
That's where I've been this year, and I know I'm not alone. I keep thinking about my grandmother, who had to go to the ICU after falling. Instead of being in the comforts of her home with family, she is in a rehab facility dealing with pain this Christmas. I think about all the people who don't have family nearby and are alone during the Christmas holiday. It's not comfortable.
The Lord keeps reminding me that Christmas is not a Hallmark-movie feeling, the decked-out homes, or even the family feast. It's not about what's comfortable. It's about Him and the glorious miracle of that birth. This year hasn’t felt like Christmas, but that’s the point the Lord had to drill into my stubborn heart. My joy for the holidays should not come from the elegant Christmas tree I put up, or the presents I buy, or even the family dinners I attend. The joy comes from the Lord and His precious gift to us.
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