It's Christmas Eve morning and I am sitting here in front of the computer wondering why I still feel so "hectic" when I know I shouldn't. This year we have decided not to host a Christmas gathering in our house, and host a gathering of friends on December 27 instead. That helps alleviate some of my worries and stress because I know I would not have to "clean our house" before Christmas. That made a lot of room for me to be able to think about "cleaning my mind and heart" instead...
My bloggy friend Lizzie posted a quote the other day that really struck me. It was from Billy Graham, and it says:
One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper was not hostile; he was not opposed to them, but his inn was crowded; his hands were full; his mind was preoccupied. This is the answer that millions are giving today. Like a Bethlehem innkeeper, they cannot find room for Christ. All the accommodations in their hearts are already taken up by other crowding interests. Their response is not atheism. It is not defiance. It is preoccupation and the feeling of being able to get on reasonably well without Christianity.
That quote is true. But I want to take it further ... It's not just the preoccupation and the feeling of being able to get reasonable well without Christianity... it is that Christians are so preoccupied of the preparations for celebrating the birth of Jesus, but we are preoccupied with matters that are not of importance to him. In our desire to make the celebration special, we tend to neglect the simplicity of first Christmas. Jesus was born in a manger, not in a fully decked out house or an extravagant hotel. The magi's gave gifts to Jesus, not to each other. It was a silent night, a holy night ...
I really am preaching to myself and no one else. I still can not understand why there is a lump of stress in my chest when it ought not be. The burden of "unaccomplished to do" is wearing me down. I need to lighten up... to be childlike...
Well.... dear Jesus ... I am sorry there is nothing special I can lay on your feet today - only these worries and stress which I do not even know exactly what they are. You said "come to me all of you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". I lay my heart down at your feet Lord Jesus - with all it's stress and worries, together with all my love and devotion for you. Take it, and do with it as you please ...
Liza
No comments:
Post a Comment