Over the past week or so, I have been asked to share with different groups my favorite part of Christmas. It could be a tradition or what I would choose to cherish if the holiday was reduced to one thing, etc...
As I reflected upon this holiday and the season, I began to think of my favorite moment each year...
It is the moment on Christmas morning when the house is quiet. Everyone else is still in bed. (Our kids do not wake up early to open presents, they actually sleep in. I will explain this tradition in another post.) I go to the area of the house where our tree is set up, I grab a cup of coffee and my Bible. I make sure the Christmas lights are on and occasionally I will also light a candle.
And I sit in the silence...This is it. This is my favorite moment of the Christmas season. It is actually my favorite moment of the year.
For me, this is the first moment of the season when there is nothing pressing. No more services to plan for, no more special events to attend, no more shopping lists, no more presents to wrap, nothing but peace and silence with Jesus.
Each year as I sit in the silence I ask God to reveal something to me through those quiet moments. I read Luke 2: the Christmas story. And each year He shows up and speaks to me.
For example, last year I was a few weeks removed from back surgery; one that did not work, so I was still in pain. Because of my surgery and the pain, I didn't decorate the way I would have liked. I couldn't wrap the presents so Aaron did it. (And he doesn't do it like I do.) And my Christmas tree had a strand or two of lights that had stopped working. Needless to say it was a bit discouraging to sit in the silence last Christmas morning. In fact, I was crying before even opening my Bible. But as I read the story of Christ's birth, I heard God speak to my heart, "I came". "I came for you. Not for lights and perfectly wrapped gifts, not for the decorations, I came for you."
This year, we are in the process of moving. Since I have been sharing my favorite moment recently, I began to worry about this year. Would I have a tree? Would I be able to find the decorations? Would the shopping get done? Would I have my moment? And then it hit me: Worry robs us of peace! And that is really what my moment is each year. It is peace. And peace is ultimately found in the fact that Jesus came. So no matter what the surroundings, I know my moment is going to happen. And it doesn't have to be just a moment. It can be the reality of everyday.
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