I could have gotten a college degree in making things complicated. A Ph.D in Complication. I am a professional Maker of Difficulty.
Even something as right and beautiful as wanting to think of Christmas in a counter-cultural way can become a daunting task when held in my busy hands too long. I put Christmas in the middle of my table and circle around it, sizing it up to figure out how to make it meaningful, memorable and simple.
There is pressure to be thankful. To be frugal. To be creative and purpose-filled. If I’m not careful, the very thing I long to make simple will become a tangled mess of green and red difficult.
I tend to do things backwards when it comes to Christmas. In a desperate effort to infuse meaning and sacredness, I try to respond and forget to receive. I do it every year. Without fail.
It’s because there are needs out there. Fake need, like to-do lists and gift shopping. And heavy, real need, like whole countries filled with hungry babies. Loads of families with no health insurance. Thousands of men out of work. The needs are great and never-ending.
I long to respond to the need, to jump into action, to busy my hands with His work while finishing up the laundry and getting our Christmas picture taken.
But unless I first receive from Him, I realize too late I have nothing to give.
I admit it is hard for me to receive Jesus. Not for my salvation like when I was seven. More, for my daily bread. If He isn’t my get-out-of-bed Jesus, my find-the-kids-socks-without-blowing-my-top Jesus, my hope-in-the-midst-of-a-hard-time Jesus, then how can Christmas be any different than any other day?
The only reason Christmas means anything in the first place is because of who Jesus is to us everyday.
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. Then it becomes His working, not mine. Then I can listen with His ears to the needs around me. Then I am aware of His heart towards those in need rather than my own sense of helplessness.
Receive the True Gift. Personally. Thankfully. Quietly.
Then, respond to His gentle voice within as He brings needs to mind. Instead of seeing a sea of hungry babies and jobless men, perhaps one need will come to mind. One baby who needs something you can give. One local family who could use that extra meal. One mama who just needs you to listen. He sees their faces and their hearts, as if they were the only one. He is not in the business of overwhelming us. He is in the business of loving people, one at a time.
A season of change, a life of return. His life. Indeed.
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This was perfect for the Monday, less than two weeks from Christmas Thank you. It’s so hard to be still and receive at times.
aha… you must have known. that i was responding like a crazy person… and forgetting to receive Him. I have prepared so much room for Him… but the receiving is lacking, and after yesterday, i knew i needed something but couldn’t for the life of me put my finger on it. today… i will make time to rest in Him. i need to. thank you…
Thank you for this reminder, to pause to receive so we have something meaningful to give.
Thankfully, you caught me before I whipped myself into a total frenzy this Monday morning.
Ah, what a precious reminder of the beautiful rhthym of the Christian life. First, I need to hear His voice, be filled with His love, see His face THEN respond to those He puts in my path.
A deep peace is settling over me as I contemplate the reality that He is God and I am not. Good news, indeed.
Blessings!
perfect timing. thank you.
Oh, Emily. You’re right. It’s true.
We’re so pleased with ourselves. We love DIY. But the great work of our lives is God’s. Humbling, isn’t it? And essential.
Thanks for the reminder.
smiling
I feel myself being rushed into Christmas and all the must-do’s, especially since I am finishing my master’s degree on the 23rd and have to give and grade 150 Spanish final exams to my high schoolers this week. I’m stressed about having time to be creative, to be frugal, to make it meaningful, to balance the time spent between my fam and the in-laws, to have time….. but whew. Slow down, you remind me. Remember what the point is. Recieve. Thanks for the breather.
Great post, and a great reminder! You’re an excellent writer!
What a wonderful post. So important to remind all of us and especially me these days. Not because I am overwhelmed with Christmas, more so because I am just overwhelmed.
You are talking to me Emily. I have a real knack for making the simplest thing a complicated mess. I have been over-thinking ways to make this Advent Season one of focusing on Jesus.
I am constantly overwhelmed by the idea of the Father so involved in each life that it is as if we were His only child. When millions are praying all at the same time, He hears my voice – as if it was the only one. His eyes are always on me – and everyone else. It is so miraculous.
Thank you for this – for simply focusing my heart and mind on receiving from Him.
Oh I knew it was you writing even before I saw your photo at the end — I recognized your beautiful writing style! What a great message. I really need to listen to this — to embrace the everyday Jesus. I was such a Big Mean Crab this weekend. Short tempered with my kids, grouchy with my husband, ungrateful and whiny and tired. And then guilty for my Big Mean Crab behavior. But reading this post feels like a fresh breath of air, another chance. Thank you. I needed that.
This is beautiful. Thank you.
oh, friend. so true and so much how i work as well. i reread that line over and over…”In a desperate effort to infuse meaning and sacredness, I try to respond and forget to receive.” we are so in need of Him to even direct us in how to seek Him. it’s so funny how we try to conger up enough holiness and sacredness to bring to Him, when all He wants is us to just come. Alone, without gifts, without offerings…in our mess and busyness and strife…just to come with meek souls and open hearts.
I needed this too. Thank you.
And I just have to agree with Michelle–you are a fantastic writer. I love your style and learn so much from reading your posts. Great job!
I was feeling completely defeated yesterday when I looked around at everything I had not finished this weekend. The paragraph from your post “Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. Then it becomes His working, not mine. Then I can listen with His ears to the needs around me. Then I am aware of His heart towards those in need rather than my own sense of helplessness.” really struck a cord with me. Feeling like I can’t do enough for those around me and being reminded that my Lord and Savior will guide me if I will just stop and let him lead. Thanks!
I read this just before the bustle of the day broke out, and it was just what I needed. Thank you Emily!
receive. your words always resonate. reminds me of a christmas season sermon of many years ago that still resonates: we are so busy putting decorations up, making it beautiful, while all the while he was laying aside the vestments of heaven, concealing His glory, becoming human, becoming lowly…the glory remains, but why are we looking for it in a box?
Oh Emily this is one of the best things you’ve ever written. Maybe I think that because it’s everything I feel right now, more acutely this year than ever. In my effort to be intentional and make meaning of it all (and try and make those around me fall in line too), I’ve realized it’s all just a whole lot of well-intentioned striving. Instead of quietly listening and being moved by the Spirit, I try to manufacture good deeds and create hearts of service in my kids. I could talk forever on this but thank you for writing so succintly and perfectly on my behalf….as always, I find such kinship in your thoughts and it makes me feel slightly less cuckoo.
Oh.
This.
Yes…
Thank you, Emily….
I cup my hands today to receive….
You cannot know how much your words blessed me today. I offer a simple, heart-felt “Thank You”. I needed these words.
I linked to your post and quoted you here: http://gravityofmotion.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-crazy.html
Thank you for this gentle reminder.
Isn’t is funny, how even simplifying can become a competition? Not even with others, but within myself…I feel disappointed if my image of the thing is shattered–if we don’t achieve what I desire.
But, yes. This.
I’m opening my heart to receive this Christmas.
With wide-eyed wonder.
I found your post through Holy Experience. This is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for blessing us this day!
I can certainly relate to “my find-the-kids-socks-without-blowing-my-top Jesus,” sure wish I couldn’t, but I can. Thank you Emily!