The Lexus commercials (and BMW ones too) drive me crazy every Christmas season. The house is always so immaculate, and the people get up from sleep looking perfectly made up and every hair in place. The PJs are all coordinated and then I never understand how they keep the car a secret and get the bow so perfectly placed on the top. Does anyone else feel that way?
In real life, Christmas is anything but perfect. It is more of “A Christmas Story” with Ralphie’s family, rather than a Lexus commercial. Dogs eat the Christmas turkey, kids get presents from crazy aunts that they hate but have to wear, and people shoot their eyes out.
Today parents are yelling at kids to get off their phones while they get on their phones to see everyone else’s pictures of Christmas perfection.
Christmas time is anything but perfect, but somehow, somewhere, we have been led to believe that it should be. It is supposed to be a time of love and cheer, light and wonder, but for many, it is one of the most difficult times of the year.
Maybe there has been loss, and you are grieving…and every Christmas time is a reminder.
Or maybe the season brings back painful reminders of our brokenness or the brokenness of others.
We often wonder why. Why me? Why this? Why does it always seem to just happen to me?
If that is you as we head into the Christmas season, you are not alone. Can I encourage you that it is not about the perfect Christmas event or the reminders of our imperfections…
…it is a reminder that the One who is perfect – who brought His holy, pure love and grace to earth – became God and Spirit wrapped in flesh and was born into the most imperfect conditions because of one simple fact: He loves you. He loves you.
ENJOYING THE SEASON
Luke 4:16-21 (NIV) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Ask God to give you eyes to see His perfect love for you as you go about your days.
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