4 Things I Learned this Christmas
Have I ever told you about the Christmas when my dog went into heat? What a story that is. I mean it did just happen so it’s pretty fresh for me. It’s a real hoot.
This holiday break was going so well despite my husband being sick. We visited family, opened presents, and had time for some of our favorite traditions like making cookies and a gingerbread village. We even did our best to focus on what Jesus did for us and what His life meant to us. Real Hallmark material. Maybe I got cocky or said something like “this is our best year yet” because things took a real turn for us.
I’ll spare you the gory details, but apparently my pup is a woman now and doggie diapers are not readily available late into the evening on Christmas Day. Human pull-ups are not an appropriate substitute AND using the last one on your newly-mature-dog is ill-advised when your mostly-potty-trained daughter suddenly forgets that she’s wearing underwear. I went home with a baggie filled with soiled clothes, not all from one person. I won’t name names. When my son woke up sick today, I felt like I was done. I will ugly cry big, hot tears if we aren’t healthy by NYE and able to spend time with friends. Sounds selfish, no doubt. Just being honest, guys.
To think, I nearly put up a slightly different response to Christmas yesterday before the wheels came off, the other shoe dropped, and my pup’s PMS nearly derailed the whole operation. I was prepared to hit “POST” yesterday afternoon and wanted to add some final touches. S’cute.
Here’s the thing. Whatever this was added a new dimension to what I was trying to say. I really tried to pay attention, but I allowed the high speed mania of the season to rule my mind. I’d still like to share what I learned this month, full well knowing that I need to do a better job of storing it in my own heart. I’m also posting it now before an anvil falls out of the sky or a magnetic beam pulls my laptop out of reach. Hypothetically speaking.
1. Jesus was always the plan. It’s easy to see our world as a place that’s slowly deteriorating, but God has had a plan since the first fall in the Garden of Eden. I’ve always thought Genesis 3:15 was about our struggle with sin when it said “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Jesus is the only one capable of crushing the head, though. In “Advent: The Journey to Christmas,” the author says “Christmas marks the beginning of God’s process to restore our relationship with Him through a New Covenant.” In Isaiah 46:10, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” He knew the way the story would end, but He still wrote it anyway.
2. God isn’t surprised by our shortcomings. I’d like to piggyback on Isaiah 46:10 here and point out that God is omniscient, meaning all-knowing. Not only does He know what will happen before it does, but He also dropped clues for how to handle the mountain of what-if’s we will face. The Bible is a collection of experiences that we can relate to. It’s a story of grace, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you’ve done. We can have faith in a Creator that didn’t give up when things were not easy. We can trust Him because He has loved us with an eternal love despite the mistakes He knew we would make.
3. Humility is a tool that shapes us, not a weapon used against us. I’ve put myself in Mary’s shoes many times, but never from the standpoint of a woman graciously rolling with the punches. I sympathize with her frustration, fear, or confusion at the many things that didn’t go as planned. I would have felt thwarted at every turn. I imagine all of this because there’s no account of Mary complaining to or questioning God. She chose instead to capture every memory like a precious treasure (Luke 2:19). I often feel like challenges are meant to tear me down and throw me off course. I confused humility with humiliation. Showing humility for the sake of honoring God is very different from experiencing shame or humiliation for choices we’ve made. Humiliation is meant to tear us down while humility prepares us to be filled up.
The humble nature of the nativity story shows us that God wants to relate to us and be attainable, rather than win us over with fame or nobility. It also shows the incredible outcome He can devise when we banish pride from our hearts. Mary chose to dwell on the presence of Jesus rather than the absence of earthly comforts.
4. God isn’t finished with you yet. Philippians 1:6 says “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” He didn’t bring you this far to leave you. He didn't send His Son to change His mind later. He did everything in His power to make sure Jesus carried out our rescue mission, sending angels, a star to guide people, and safe cover for Mary to give birth. Mary could have complained about the conditions or driven people away with a poor attitude. She chose to focus on the big picture, rather than the current conditions. She knew God was writing a bigger story and she was grateful to be a part of it.
I hope your Christmas found you making joyful memories. As life goes on and you face the hard stuff, I hope you break a part of the wall that keeps you from experiencing the fullness of God’s grace in your relationships. I think it’s good to give and receive gifts because celebrating Jesus is the perfect time to go big! May we also remember those in need as the year rolls on and a new one begins. I pray that as it says in Psalm 90:15 He will “make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.” I hope this next chapter is even better than the last!
