Embrace & Rejoice
Embrace the Messy Christmas...and rejoice!
Christmas time.
The anticipation each year of coloured lights, carols, laughter, pageants, parties, presents, turkey, special cookies, and stockings by the tree. Expectations and plans. Every year the hope of magical moments of wonder and celebration.
But sometimes the reality of the holiday season is anything but merry.
You may be struggling with financial issues, which makes gift-giving stressful. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one, and the thought of missing them is changing your hopes and plans. Maybe you are having relationship struggles with your family, making gatherings dreaded rather than joyful.
The real Christmas story, despite how Hollywood likes to depict it, was far from perfect. It was simple. And, it was messy.
Mary was a young girl who was very pregnant and travelling across a desert on a donkey. She would have been tired, sore, and seeking elusive shelter far from home. Joseph was a young man who was faithful in caring for his young fiancée, who claimed to be miraculously pregnant with the Son of God. The shame and weight of societal judgment would have been huge, yet they were faithful.
The stable would have been some shelter from the cold night, but it was just a barn, smelly with animals. Mary and Joseph would also have been dirty and stinky from travelling. Mary gave birth with only Joseph to help her. No doctors, no midwives, no nurses, no family members to assist. Not on a bed, but on a pile of hay. No running water. No electricity. No turkey feast to celebrate. No lights. No songs.
Yet in that deplorable situation, we find a turning point in history. The God of Heaven came down to earth as a little helpless baby to repair the spiritual relationship between God and Man, all the hopes of Heaven within the tiny frame of a helpless newborn.
Angels announced the birth to the shepherds, inviting them to come and celebrate. Can you imagine the terror of having an angel appear before you while tending your flocks during the night? Yet they were faithful, and they came to celebrate the birth of a King.
The angel didn’t invite the important but the lowly. Not the kings and nobility. Not the wealthy and influential. Not the scholars and merchants. Why? Because God isn’t impressed with titles, money, and influence. He came for ALL of us, regardless of our accomplishments, intelligence, money, or status.
Christmas is the story of Jesus, who came for each one of us. The broken, the lonely, the bereaved, the struggling, and the needy. It is only His love for us that gives us meaning in this life and hope for the next.
So this year, join me in enjoying the lights, the music, the food, and the people. The good, the bad, and the ugly! It’s okay for your celebrations to be simple. It’s okay not to be perfect.
Embrace it all. Embrace the mess, the chaos, the noise, and the simple moments, too.
Rejoice. Just like Mary and Joseph did. Rejoice as the angels did. Rejoice as the shepherds did.
Rejoice in the birth of Jesus.
Celebrate the small moments. Cherish the glimpse of Heaven, and despite your circumstances, choose Joy.
Behind the Writing Desk...
Hello, friend ~ thank you for joining me today…I appreciate you reading my musings.
I’m hiding from a blizzard today...only a few days until Christmas, and I’m nowhere near ready. But in the vein of keeping it simple and embracing the mess…I’m scaling things back, not stressing about what isn’t done, and focusing on the essential things.
Yep, cookies.
Shortbread is my favourite at this time of year. Or a sweet sugar cookie. Or anything with chocolate, really.
What about you? What is your favourite sweet treat at Christmas time?
Meanwhile…here are some updates:
I’m looking for a launch team…My Memoir edits are complete, and I’m hoping to publish in the New Year. I’m looking for a select group of people to join my launch team to help promote and review my book. If you are interested, please contact me directly.
Thanks! NEW working title - “Speechless: A Mother’s Memoir of Caregiving”.
Speaking…Do you need a speaker for your event? I am now booking dates in 2026. You can view presentations on my website on the “Speaker” page.
Download a FREE Resource: “Scriptures of Hope” page.
Blessings, Kathleen
PS - Check out the latest blogs, articles, books, and more on my website! Psalm139Promises.com and find all my books on Amazon.
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I’d love to be part of your launch team, Kathy!