Advent Reflection: Let go of Christmas craziness

With only two weekends left before Christmas, you may be reckoning with the fact that time is running out to create the holiday you envisioned on December 1st.

On that day, you may have scanned Pinterest for decorating ideas, kids’ crafts, and cookie recipes, but none of those holiday activities have materialized.

Maybe you intended to spend $x only to have a major repair derail your carefully planned budget.

Maybe you grabbed an angel from the tree at church and totally forgot about it. You may still have time to purchase a gift by the deadline, but deep down, the frenzy of the month has you feeling deflated and annoyed.

Let it go.

Let it go because Jesus does not need you to celebrate his birth with a gingerbread house.

He will not be dishonored if you hang artificial greens instead of real ones.

His coming to earth means way more than the ugly sweater party for which you feel compelled to roam the Goodwill store.

Let it go because there are families sitting in hospitals facing grave illness and death.

Let it go because there are neighbors planning funerals today.

Let it go because divorcees are juggling tense conversations about how to divvy up time with kids.

Let it go because the childless, the homeless, and the elderly would give anything to have the simple joys that Christmas brings: children, a warm bed, and love all around.

So with two weekends left until Christmas, there’s still time to remember that Martha’s frenzied preparation for Jesus was so unnecessary. He called her out on it, in fact. Is He calling you out?

Thank him and remember that He was born on a bed of straw. His parents had nothing but a blanket and their love to give him. Their modest means and that rugged birthing room serve as a reminder that the birth of Jesus is about one thing: JESUS, not the trappings we have come to worship in His place.

Oh Martha, Martha, you are so anxious and concerned about a million details, ⁴² but really, only one thing matters. Mary has chosen that one thing, and I won’t take it away from her.

Luke 10. 41-42 (Voice)