Faithchick

a christmas list

I have a list I am trying to complete before we head out to Colorado.

1. Organize the basket on top of the fridge.

2. Paint the kitchen chairs.

3. Finish two more chapters in the upcoming book.

4. Clean the house.

Let me give you a run down of where we are with the list.  Nowhere. Nada.  Zilch.  Zippo.  Not one thing done.  It's more like semi-controlled pandemonium here.  But instead of pulling all my hair out, I am going to breathe deep.  And settle myself with the fact that I am keeping the tradition of what Christmas was like that first night.  I bet Mary had a list.

1. Clean the donkey

2. Gather food for the journey

3. Make reservations with an inn in Bethlehem

4. Don't forget the swaddling clothes

5. Bring extra blankets - just in case

And then there was the reality of the night.  Chaos.  A packed city brimming with people.  An aching back and belly trying to adjust to the donkey's unwieldy gate.  A frantic search for a place to rest.  The mess of the stable.  Birth pains growing strong and steady.  And there in the midst of the cacophony of a middle eastern barn,the hope of the world was born.  Small. Perfect.  With reddened skin and peach fuzz for hair. Drawing a deep breath and with a newborn squall, heralding the arrival of God come to Earth.Coming in the wildest of times, to a struggling nation and an unstable world, to bring peace on earth and goodwill toward men. He came with a list engraved on his heart.  His purpose was woven into his DNA.

1. Seek and save the lost

And all these long Christmases since that first chaotic night, he is still doing that.  One soul at a time.  Coming into our mess.  Beckoning us with his love. Enfolding us in his grace. Righting our crookedness with his truth.  And on this Christmas day, 2000 years later, I am thankful that Emmanuel, God with is, is still working on his list.

Susanna Aughtmon is a freelance writer, married to church planter Scott, and mom to three sweet boys, 9 and under.  She likes to spend her free moments trying to resurrect plants in her garden, eating chocolate, reading fiction and checking the comments on her blog, Confessions of a Tired Supergirl. 

I’ve been running in circles, fretting about social networking, deadlines, not-yet-purchased gifts, as-yet-non-existent cards and the politics of five kids pulled in lots of directions who don’t know which family they should go to for Christmas. (I’m a mother-in-law as well as a mother so I do get the fix everyone is in.) It was so much easier when they were small and it was all about me and my plans! I want to be more than a stop on their circuit to pick up gifts and move on. My desire is for relaxed, enjoyable family time together and I don’t see much of that on the horizon.

Still, my real yearning is to spend Christmas as Christ would have me do. He wouldn’t be much interested in gifts made of plastic and purchased in desperation. Nor would He care what we had for dinner. What He’d want, I believe, is time spent with me sitting at His feet, being in His presence, just hanging out with me because we’re friends. Hmmm… He wants from me exactly what I want from my children! Personal time, intimate chats, coziness, not quick drop-ins and hurried exchanges.

Ironic, isn’t it, how easy it is to be frustrated with our own children and yet not see how much our own Father longs for time with us? He’s much more patient than I am. He’s forgiven more and loved more fully. And He’s waiting to hear if I’m going to be at His house for Christmas. I will, of course, but I’m not going to just drop in but leave my mind somewhere else, on my next stop or what’s in the oven. I’m going to His house to focus on Him, have a heart-to-heart talk and bask in the gift of His love.
Judy Baer