" . . . AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED EMMANUEL (WHICH MEANS, GOD WITH US.) Mathew 1:23
I just love Christmas, as all who know me will concur. I grew up watching my mother, as all little girls do. What I learned, as soon as I was too old for Santa, was: if Christmas was going to happen, it was my job, as wife and mother, to make it so. My job to do the shopping, the baking, the cooking, the wrapping, the decorating, the cards, the tree (the list wears me out just to type it) . . . in addition to all the stuff I usually did.
Now I didn't hold down a full time job, as many wives and mothers do today (how they do it all, I can't imagine), but I was busy, believe me.
Add to that 7 kids who were sugared up and wild with the excitement of everything and you got . . . stress. Lots of it! Along about this time in Advent, I'd experience a wave of panic: I'll never get it all done! I got a small bout of anxiety yesterday as I looked at my Christmas cards, spread out all over the table. What a mess, and so many to do! And the shopping and decorating and baking weren't done yet, either. Then there was the wrapping to do!
I am remembering the year I got so sick the week before Christmas. I was the Religious Ed Director at St. Pius Parish in Billings. We had lots of activities in each class for programs and plays and visiting parents and all. I had worked on that for a long time by now, and so had all the teachers. So much still to do there. And the things I still needed to do at home. And I always had lots of company at my house for Christmas. I just couldn't have handled one more thing piled on my plate. Then, on top of that my dear husband had to go travelling around the state to deliver "gifts" to his customers. I struggled through the week, sick and all, and did all the "Christmas" by myself, tried to care for my family and do my work at church. I had no time for prayer or even recognizing "The Reason for the Season".
But God heard me anyway, as He always does. My parents came early from Chinook because the weather and roads were good, but would be turning bad the next day. So there they were. What a blessing! They helped me with everything they could do. Made sure I got some rest. Picked up kids from school and took them to their various activities, cleaned, prepared meals, cheered me up, and calmed me down. Never was their help more appreciated. And I loved having them come for the holidays!
And that was Christmas! Christmas is not all the traditions we cherish -- cards, trees, decorations, food, programs, etc., lovely as they may be. Christmas is Emmanuel. God with us. Christmas is that tap on my shoulder, the still small voice which whispers: "I am here. I am with you, for you, right where you are. In the middle of your mess."
I don't have to worry that I'm too busy, or too sick, or too sad. CHRISTMAS IS GOD'S BUSINESS. He will make it happen. And it always does, whether I'm ready or not!
Father God: Help me to relax, take a deep breath and trust You.. . For Christmas. Amen
