There are a lot of Christmas songs out there that paint the picture of the perfect holiday, complete with thick, beautiful snow.
The problem with that picture is that it is not the picture I see outside my window in December. I live in North Texas and in the 50 years I have lived here, we have had maybe two Christmases with snow on the ground. In fact, the thought of living in colder climates and having to navigate through months of snowfall does not put me in the Christmas spirit at all.
I think there are many people who have a picture in their minds of the perfect holiday, and theirs looks nothing like that. It’s a source of anxiety and depression for a lot of people.
We need only look at the first Christmas story to know that plans don’t always go the way we want or expect. A virgin birth of the Messiah in a stable in Bethlehem was not what the nation of Israel was expecting. Nor was it what Mary and Joseph wanted. But the beauty and simplicity of that night cannot be denied. (They probably didn’t have snow that night either.)
My Christmas will probably not look like yours. That is what makes it special. So don’t stress out this year if your plans fall through. Have a joyous time celebrating the unexpected birth of Jesus.
Father, help me not to be anxious about this holiday season. Help me take things as they come.
For Today: Read the Christmas story from the Book of Luke. Focus on the wonder of Jesus’ birth.
Photo Credit: Stein Egil Liland