MERRY EVE of CHRISTMAS EVE, everyone!!!
We published this a few years ago, and it’s still one of our very favorites to reflect on, especially at this time of year. It just felt appropriate to share again. Our greatest hope for you is that you know you’re very loved and that you have an amazing holiday-embracing the chaotic, the peaceful, the good and the bad, the wonderful times, and the difficult. The imperfect, and the absolutely magical. We’re thinking of you!
Hugs and LOVE and a Very Merry Holiday Season!
__________________
I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About the expectations that come with Christmas.
There can be a lot of pressure with the holidays.
As a human race, with the culture we’re in… there’s a lot of striving for things. The perfect decor. The perfect recipe. The perfect gift. The perfect experience. The perfect day. The perfect life.
We’re practically drowning in expectations.
We strive for happiness. We yearn for it.
I think we’re sold a lie that in achieving a certain thing, we will be happy. And then when that thing is achieved, another something will keep us happy. And therein lies the striving for our ideals and perfection. Whether or not we intend to, there’s that looming pressure… every year. To live up to those expectations.
Right now, our hearts are heavy.
For those who are feeling a little short-changed this Christmas. For those who are wrestling with life.
For those without a home. For those with broken families. For those who have lost a loved one. For those who feel alone. For those who are faced with a difficult season and their own struggles.
Through the glitter and the lights and the wrapping paper. Through the glossy mirages of our own expectations, we are a weary people.
The holiday in itself, for some… the gathering and the expectations and the exhaustion… it can feel a bit like a bird with a broken wing. A constant reminder of whatever burden we’re carrying.
And if there’s a burden, we’re not really sure what to do with it all.
I think the ideal of happiness… the pressure that comes with this ‘perfect’ day… it’s funny, really.
The first Christmas, by our modern-day standards… was probably the most imperfect event there ever was.
For starters, there was the whole almost-broken-marriage-arrangement thing. Followed by an exhausting journey where a very pregnant Mary rode a very long distance. People practically slammed doors in their faces. And can you really imagine giving birth in a manger? Do you know how smelly livestock can be? Do you know how itchy hay is?
I’m sure this isn’t how she planned for the birth of her first born.
The birth… I think it would fall terribly short of our modern-day sanitary expectations. We tend to see this picturesque arrangement where Mary is practically glowing… bathed in moonlight, and it’s peaceful in some soft hay. Cue the doting lambs and a nice looking Bessie-the-cow, stage right.
Maybe it was, at some point. But after she endured the pains of childbirth right beside livestock. After they cleared out a little space right beside some manure so she could actually go through the process of labor and delivery. I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say, it wasn’t the best experience ever.
But that’s the beauty of it all: This seemingly imperfect, most humble scene. The part where the Savior arrived in this quiet, dirty corner of the world.
In a manger of all places.
He came, not with grand entries filled with perfection and huge expectations. Not with flashy commercialism and glitter and lights. Not painlessly.
But amongst the lowliest of animals. In the smells of manure paired with sniffing and grunting and munching and moo-ing of His stall-mates.
Under one bright star.
A helpless baby to a regular family.
And he came to change the course of humanity.
So in the middle of us, checking our lists twice and dealing with the hustle and bustle of everything around us… of the stress and the exhaustion and the striving for perfection and even in the middle of the really great moments this holiday season…
In the middle of split families and loss, illnesses and depression, heartbreak and disappointments… in the middle of joy and happiness and bright smiles and happy laughter,
Know that He came to heal that broken bird with it’s broken wing – Whatever that broken part for you, may be.
That is HIS Christmas to us. That’s the ultimate, simple beauty of it all.
Christmas isn’t always a wonderful time of year for everyone. It isn’t always a perfect day.
The very first Christmas fell incredibly short of perfection. And in its own way, it was still the most beautiful moment.
Know that there’s more, and that’s why our hearts ultimately yearn for it.
Beyond the twinkling bokeh and paper with strings, we hope that you find a little bit of that simple beauty. You know about His love. And know that our hearts are with you this Christmas.
The weary world rejoices.
Adrienne says
Lovely, thank you. This expressed how I have been feeling lately. Merry Christmas!
Janice Smith says
Beautifully said! Just what my heart needed this morning! So thankful and blessed that God sent His son to this weary world to be a light for us all! Bless you and Merry Christmas!
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. In our home, just as in days of old the first day of Christmas begins on the 25th and the 12th day of Christmas ends on January 6th ~Epiphany. Christmas is not one day. But you know that. 🙂 The merriest and brightest of days to you and yours.
Annie says
This was precious! Thank you. The weary world rejoices. Weary of our striving, our sin, our sadness. Joy to the world! The Lord has come!
AlanainCanada says
Merry Weary Christmas to you and your family. May you rejoice.
Robin says
This was a beautiful post! Thank you. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!
Sara says
Absolutely lovely post. Thank you!
Tania @ Run To Radiance says
Amen! Glory, glory, glory.
Merry Christmas! 🙂
Gina Spinks says
A beautifully written and poignant reminder to celebrate simply!
carolina says
Thank You – I loved reading this.
A very Merry CHRISTmas to you and your cute family!
Summer Hogan says
This was a beautiful post. Thanks for the reminder the the most precious of births and Christmas celebrations was messy. Just like ours will be! Merry Christmas to you guys!
Christa @ BrownSugarToast says
Beautifully written. And I love the nativity that goes along with it. Sometimes I have things all arranged in my mind – we’ll do this, and then that, and everything will be perfect! But then life happens and I end up making an impromptu doctor’s visit on Christmas Eve. And I think that, really, it’s during those imperfect moments – when we try to make the best of the situation & give thanks for it – that the very best memories are made.
Merry Christmas to your fam.
Jenna says
I’m sorry Christa. Hope you guys stay well. As of this afternoon, I’m pretty sure I’m fighting off the flu. It might be a little unpredictable for us this year, too. Stay well! Merry Christmas!
ashley @ the handmade home says
So sorry you’re not feeling well, Christa! Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Michelle (aka mybelle101) says
Amen! Our pastor had a very similar message this past Sunday (he’s done a series on Jesus’s family tree from Matthew, including (especially) the “messy” parts that don’t seem to “fit” in the genealogy of the Savior of the World). I love that God loves, sent His Son to save, and then uses broken, messy people. That’s definitely something for a weary world to rejoice over! Merry Christmas!!
Michael @ CraftyDad.com says
Ashley,
This is perfect.
And I love the fact that we can find perfection in the imperfect world we live in.
God is good. So good.
Wishing you and Jamin and the kiddos the merriest of Christmases.
May you all find moments of peach this Holiday.
–Michael
Michael @ CraftyDad.com says
“Moments of peach”? Really Michael? Peach?
See: I am a living example of the imperfect world we live in.
Seriously: may you find PEACE in the hustly-bustly days ahead. : )
#broken #imperfect #loved
Luisa says
Heehee! Too funny!
Michael @ CraftyDad.com says
OMGosh….In all my years of blogging and commenting, that is the most goofed-up comment I’ve ever posted.
Thanks for finding the humor in it. {I sure did!}
Luisa says
Thank you for such a beautifully written post. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Ashleigh Hall says
Ashley!!! Your heart is JUST.SO.GOOD!! Thank you sister!! Don’t ever stop putting those words to paper friend!! Your God given talent just gets me every time!!
Barbi says
God has blessed you with writing the words most beautifully, keep using those talents and we’ll keep reading. God Bless your family and Have a Joyous Christmas!!
Toodles, Barbi
Jess says
Whoa, this is so good. Thank you for sharing the raw and beautifull reality of what Christmas should be about. Every year i struggle with the gift giving and celebrating of Christmas, not due to selfishness or a grinch-like disposition, but because it seems to take away from the true story behind this special day. I wish things could be celebrated differently. Less stress, arguing, mistreating, judging. More God. Love, peace, and compassion. Hope your Christmas was filled with so many good memories!
Christine Hebbring says
I read this aloud to my family tonight. I made us all quiet, teary and reflective. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us. You made an impact upon each of us. Blessings to you and yours.
Peace,
Christine
Lynne says
This is just perfect ~ thank you so much for sharing! Best wishes to you and your family ~ you bring so many smiles throughout the year!
Whitney Shortt says
I know Christmas is over, but this post was such a great reminder. Thank you for sharing!
Cristin says
Ashley this was beautifully written. I loved all of it!
GG says
This was a beautiful post! Thank you. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!