Christmas….that time of the year when the world tries to paint a picture of a “picture perfect” Christmas…the perfect Christmas card sent, the decorations all in their places and of course the fairytale of how there was ample time to set up and the kids were on their best behavior with no arguments, the cookies weren’t burnt and tasted like Betty Crockers herself, there was money in excess to buy each present you wanted, the traffic and hustle and bustle was just Merry and of course the snow fell so perfectly like a snow globe as you danced and frolicked with friends and loved ones at the perfect Christmas dinner…the worlds picture perfect is a Hallmark dream most of us will never see. So what is picture perfect Christmas? Is picture perfect a vision before our eyes that the world dictates or is it something more? I’ve had what I thought were picture perfect Christmas’ as a child…family, food, presents, candlelight service at church all dressed up together, snow and fun times in NH, and of course…Santa…. I’ve also experienced such tragic loss and pain at Christmas. There’s also sickness and the inability to create what I thought was a picture perfect Christmas for me and for my family. Reality is Christmas is a baby that was born to an imperfect world in an imperfect setting. He wasn’t born in a castle with the perfect everything and parents of the highest rank…He was born in a stable to an ordinary man and an ordinary woman. He was born for us…and then He died for us. He was sent to earth for us for such a time. His birth alone was the greatest gift. This year as I reflect on the birth of Jesus I’m reminded that just ONE birth changed the world. This Christmas there’s nothing perfect…I have too many friends that are dealing with tragic losses in their life and many still mourning losses from years before, sickness continues to invade my life and many lives, the budget nor the time allows for the worlds perfect Hallmark Christmas. The reality is my Christmas isn’t perfect but it’s where the Lord has me and for that I am blessed…blessed to have the best gift one could ask for…Jesus! So when I look to the left and to the right of me and think I catch a glimpse of another persons perfect Christmas I am reminded that we live in an imperfect world and truly there is no picture perfect Christmas. This morning on Christmas Eve I am thankful that Christmas this year is filled with memories that will be dear to my heart….not perfect memories but real memories of where the Lord has me!
Merry Christmas!🎄❤️💚