It reminds me of how Jesus came into this world. Not into a clean and sterile birthing room...not into a beautiful, luxurious bedroom...into a dirty stable with the messiness of animals and dust and straw and probably some dung too. His entering presence didn't require the perfect place...just an available space.
I looked around my home this morning and saw the chaos and brokenness. Dishes and stains and dust and toys and a dead Christmas tree...nothing is shiny, nothing is cute...all looks dull and dreary and done. I thought, "Really? This is what this home will be like come Christmas?"
Yet immediately I was comforted by the gift of His Presence...that He delights to enter these kinds of homes, these kinds of relationships, these kinds of sicknesses. Brokenness is His business. He binds the brokenhearted, sets free prisoners, heals the sick, shines light into darkness, restores the years the locusts have eaten...He just asks me to be willing...to be available to Him.
And what better way to be available to Him than when I am still right now...no frantic rushing, no more baking, no more crafting, no more cooking...nothing. All I have to give is me and all He wants to give is Him.
So we give each other ourselves....PRESENCE. All the money spent on the presents can't touch the beauty of Real Presence. May this be our Advent Reality this year.
14 comments:
Sweet perspective, my friend. Blessings to you all this Christmas. I've been where you are! (funny that the word verification i have to type on this comment is 'relating.') May you enjoy the presence of each other, having your most precious loved ones all around as your bodies heal. (You must listen to "Labor of Love" by Andrew Peterson. YouTube it. It will speak to you in this place.)
God has a way of reminding us. Brokenness . . . that's what He loves. And everything in my flesh wants to resist that brokenness . . . and instead to be "better than." Thank you for your sweet reminder.
AMEN! May the Lord bless you and your family because you see the Truth!
I'm sorry for the illness in your family, but thank you for sharing the perspective it has given you! May you have a blessed AND merry Christmas!
Oh, this is so true. We get so caught up in worldly things, don't we? Perhaps we avoid consumerism, but we get caught up in the "making our homes fair as we are able" just as much.
Loving your perspective on this.
Merry Christmas Aimee!
Aimee, God has given you a gift. Thank-you for sharing His words for you with us.
Thank you for these words. They are such a blessing to me tonight.
aimee dear, you have the best perspective. I pray you and your family get better. don't forget your family will remember the attitude of the home more than what it looks like. beautiful post.
AMEN! Stumbled across your blog and I am very encouraged! The Lord has a way of putting things in proper perspective. May the the Lords presence continue to keep you.
Oh friend... God knows.
Love you.
Amen, sister! God bless you and your family. I hope and pray you are all on the mend ASAP!
What a beautiful post. I just stumbled on to your blog and your words blessed me so much this christmas eve. merry christmas!
dear heart, I truly hope you are feeling better, and that your good cheer never waivered even if your tummies did. Thisi s what it's all about. Presence.
there's always something we can redeem out of any time when Jesus is with us...good for you, dear heart.
i pray that your holidays have brought joy and deeper understanding of His ways. and i do hope you are feeling better!
i am working on that letter soon....i'm sorry it is taking me so long.
much love!
Post a Comment