We made the 3 hour trek to Grandparents’ house yesterday. Add a stop at Target for returning a blanket that made Elam cry, some awful pretzel and cheese dip and we survived. During the drive I attempted some Christmas meaning by listening to an “Adventures in Odyssey” that brought us to Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.
There were a lot of bad Yiddish accents, Roman oppressive guards and screaming. Screams from Mary. From Joseph (only a little). And from Jesus.
Isn’t it comforting that He most likely was a fully human child with working lungs and cries? He probably screamed like a banshee when He emerged from the womb.
He also was most likely covered in blood, wet fluids and was a beautiful plucked chicken, just like we all were.
It was a mess.
Then add the scenery and the lack of antiseptic medical attention and wow, any of us who love to be clean and germ free might start screaming. And running away.
Well, this holiday my family is a mess. Elam and I had a major fight over a gift (which wasn’t exactly like his brothers and hence the Christmas Eve Target visit). Brian and I haven’t been getting much sleep due to sick kids, a bed wetter and cougher. We haven’t been peaches and cream to each other…
We are at my parents’ house and they have both been dog sick.
We are a mess.
So I decided everyone needed some fresh air today out in the woods. We walked and found way too much dog poo, woodpecker holes and green leaves. Ground pine and fungi kept us entertained as well as the multiple piles of deer poo.
Then we got lost. Circles I’m talking. Calista is whining. XS can’t climb over the dead trees. My skirt getting caught in the brambles.
We were a mess.
Just like the first Christmas.
God sent His only Son into the (messed-up!) world, so that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9).
All this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. (1 Cor. 5:18)
He came to bring us all back together with God. No matter how messy it was He was willing to do because He wanted to be with us again.
So even though we are a train wreck surrounded by dirty (EW!) tissues, inhalers and ibuprofen, we are together. And it’s worth it.
The alternative is lonely and sad!
We choose togetherness. Following Jesus into the mess.
So, pass the anti-BAC gel, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!