Christmas music has been playing in my house since mid-November and the majority of my shopping has been finished since then too. We hauled the decorations out of the attic and decked our halls before we headed out of town for Thanksgiving.
It’s not that I wanted to rush past Thanksgiving.
I just wanted to come home, sit by the glow of the tree lights and soak up the meaning of this season.
What I want this year – like every year – is for my heart to be right this Christmas.
And every year it seems I fall short because I allow the world to tangle me in tinsel and choke the joy right out of me.
I don’t want to be consumed with the stuff filling stores; I want to be consumed with my Savior.
I want fewer gifts under the tree and more memories made.
I want to stay healthy this holiday season, although a flu diagnoses on Christmas Eve led to a pretty perfect Christmas last year.
We’ve cut back on the material things to make more memories as a family.
After a very stressful Thanksgiving, I find myself aching for Jesus in this broken world.
For His Peace.
For His Forgiveness.
For His Healing.
For His Love.
But although I’m weary; I find myself rejoicing, because of His promises penned in Isaiah.
There will be NO limits to the wholeness He brings. (Isaiah 9:6)
How I yearn for wholeness this Christmas.
How I yearn for more of Him; because He is worth far more than the twinkling lights and traditions.
So this Advent season, I will enter into the anticipation and celebration, remembering my need, repenting of my sin, and rejoicing in the “already” of Jesus’ birth and the “not yet” of all it means for eternity. (She Reads Truth: Advent Day 1)
I will hold tight to all He has for me as I trade the Christmas chaos for His perfect peace.