Do You See What I See?

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It seems like the world gets a bit crazy the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The lines in the stores increase, and with each passing day it becomes apparent that we are a society that has no understanding of what it means to wait. Drivers are less tolerant of fellow travelers. Everyone seems to be in a rush and a bit more on edge. The clock is ticking, and the Christmas deadline looms before us all.

Without warning, we can easily get sucked into the chaos of a world that is exploding with indulgence. We push our budgets to the breaking point at the expense of extravagance. Even the most cautious and conservative can find themselves wishing for fulfilled dreams and storybook endings – all wrapped up with a bow and delivered on the 25th of December.

Christmas can be a time of so much fun, and yet it is a time that can be so hard to navigate wisely. Our priorities can easily get sidetracked if we’re not careful. So, perhaps it is time to ask the question…

What is the Christmas message that I want my family and friends to see in me over the coming weeks?

Hurried and harried
Overwhelmed and exhausted
Stressed and impatient

…or…

Thoughtful and kind
Joy-filled and gracious
Hopeful and at peace with the Savior

The answer is pretty clear. We all want to be a positive witness to our family, friends and co-workers – especially during this time of the year. Christ is the whole reason we are called Christians and why we celebrate Christmas. So, what's the best strategy to help us balance it all? The demands of our hectic schedules. The planning needed to prepare a special meal, bake those special Christmas treats or hunt down just the right gift for those we love?

We pray.

We pray for God’s guidance as we shop, plan and prepare for each special event. We pray for wisdom and God’s grace to be a part of each day. We pray for patience (yes, patience!) – while driving, shopping and waiting in line. We pray for health and safety while traveling. We pray for moments of reflection and a quiet heart. We pray for our family and friends. We pray for a ‘White Christmas’ (or maybe not).

But most importantly, we pray for those who have not yet seen the love of God, sent into the world in the form of his baby son, to have open eyes this Christmas. May they see and know that the promised Messiah, Jesus, was born just as it had been promised!

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:20

 May they see what we see – the true Christmas Miracle sent to save us. May they see Jesus in you and me!



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