Tag: christmas

The Beautiful and the Hard . . .

Christ Born of Mary

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Jesus didn’t come to earth in a picture-perfect moment. Can you imagine? Mary . . . nine months pregnant, exhausted, uncomfortable, terrified, in pain . . . Joseph . . . frantic to find a place to rest before this baby, the Savior of the world, made His entrance. How they must’ve felt when they realized that only a stable would be available for the King of the Kings.

We so often romanticize Jesus’s birth. Mary sitting demurely, smiling without a care in the world. The baby Jesus, laying so perfectly peaceful in the manger. But I would imagine that like any new mother Mary felt all the things . . . awe and fear, tears and pain were all part of Jesus’s entrance in humanity. And then the shepherds came straight from the fields. The first people to worship the King of Kings, weren’t in fine apparel or bearing expensive gifts . . . those would come later . . . but the first were some of the humblest and the poorest, uneducated and unaccepted by society.

The first Christmas was hard and beautiful . . . perfectly imperfect . . . full of joy, but at the same time, full of questions without answers. That’s so much of life. Much like Mary and Joseph, we don’t see the big picture, the one-million-foot view. Maybe this Christmas you’re sitting in the hard and the beautiful. Full of joy, but also, full of questions. I don’t need to remind you that it’s not about the “picture-perfect” Christmas, the perfect gifts, the perfect house, the perfect family, the perfect decorations . . . all of that is fine. But it’s also okay to sit in the hard today. It’s okay if it’s not all perfect. If there are more questions than answers today.

I pray that today, and every day, you know you are loved by not only the King of Kings, but also, the Prince of Peace. That whatever your Christmas looks like, you feel the deep abiding peace and joy that can only come from knowing Him.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

– Isaiah 9:6

Embracing Today

The holidays flew by at lightning speed. One second it was November 1st and five minutes later it’s almost mid-January. It seems like the older we get the faster time goes. I know I’m not alone in this. I think it’s a favorite lament of those my age (ahem . . . in their 40s) and older. We love to talk about how fast time goes . . . how busy we are (my favorite complaint) . . .

I had a realization at some point in December. Somewhere between the insanity of two basketball games and a tournament and a driving test (watch out world) all in one week for my oldest plus a Christmas party and a million fun holiday activities for my youngest, I really realized, I have a 16-year-old and an almost 11-year-old. They are not babies anymore. Not even close. It’s no longer “the days are long, but the years are short”. We’ve reached the point in life where I can now declare, the days are short, and the years are even shorter, but I had a brief second just before Christmas to stop and reflect. I am the mother of a 16-year-old. Sixteen y’all. Next up is 17 and then 18! In two and a half short years he’ll be packing up and getting ready to head off to college. The years I have left with my oldest in my home are short . . . and they are busy . . . and they are full of all the things. And I can either embrace them, or I can complain about them.

I didn’t get as many books read in 2023 as I wanted. I didn’t have much time to sit quietly with a cup of coffee and read. I missed a few workouts here and there, and I didn’t get to bake and make all the usual holiday treats. I have to prioritize what’s really important (ad nauseum . . . God, marriage, kids . . .), and you know where I landed? I’m happy with our crazy, full, insanely, busy life.

It’s not that I am one of those people that thrives off of never being home or constantly going. It’s that I realized that there will come a day when I have the time to sit and read with a cup of coffee that’s still warm. When I can fill my days and my schedule with more of my stuff and less of their stuff, and those will be awesome days. But that’s not today, and these days are equally as awesome.

If you’ve read any amount of my writing, you know I’m all about embracing each stage of our kids growing into the most independent people they can be. I’m not about holding onto infancy, or toddlerhood, or childhood . . . I’m a huge fan of encouraging them and allowing them to grow up and become who God has created them to be. Some days that’s really tough. It’s tough to shut up and let them fail. It’s tough not to step in and control everything. Other days, and more and more with my oldest, it’s actually kind of enjoyable. Watching him grow from a boy to a young man is such an honor. With my youngest, who does have some developmental delays, every step toward more independence is a privilege to watch and be a part of. Wherever she lands, I’m so proud of who she is. I love watching my kids thrive and grow and learn and do the hard things in this life.

One day, I’ll sit and stare at my Christmas tree (I took it down a while ago, but you get my point) and read my books quietly. I’ll sleep past 5:45 a.m. I’ll go shopping when I want and clean my house on a schedule that makes sense and possibly, not miss my workouts . . . maybe . . . I’ll have time to cook and bake and write and travel when everyone else’s kids are in school. One day . . . But for today, I’m going all in on this season of raising and launching these two incredible young people we love so much.

Are we busy? Yes . . . we are wonderfully and insanely busy.

Are we blessed? Beyond measure.

Do I need more caffeine? Absolutely.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. – Luke 2:8-20

I keep coming back to the shepherds . . . lowly, probably dirty, out in the fields at night . . . not honored or revered or highly respected . . . they did nothing to earn His favor . . . nothing to deserve the visit from the multitude of angels heralding the birth of the Savior . . . and yet, they were the first to hear . . . the first to know . . . the first to worship. A Savior who by all rights should’ve been born in a palace . . . who deserved the most opulent, the most glorious, this earth had to offer . . . yet, He came . . . not in a palace as a king worshipped and honored by His subjects . . . instead as a babe, born amongst the animals, and laid in a manger, a trough . . .

I keep coming back to the shepherds . . . because like them, I’m undeserving . . . I haven’t earned it. I don’t deserve His love, His mercy, His grace, His redemption . . . none of us do, and yet here we are . . .

“Good tidings of great joy which will be to all people . . .”

He came for shepherds. He came for kings. He came for all people. How thankful I am for that babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. How grateful I am for the man He grew to be and the life He sacrificed so that I may live.

I’ve always been clear how much I love Christmas. I love every overrated, overdecorated, gloriously gawdy tree and decoration. I love the cheer and the music and all of it. But I never want anything to overshadow the Why the Who behind it all. I never want to get so wrapped up in the insanity and madness that I forget to give glory to my King. So, I come back to the shepherds on the that normal night that quickly turned to the most glorious and holy of nights. I come back to remember and rejoice just as they did on that blessed night.

O Holy Night

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!


Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend


Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim

Wherever this day finds you, may you find joy in peace in Jesus. The only reason we celebrate.

Merry Christmas!