Christmas Eve and So Much To Do
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 12/24/2009 at 8:30 AM
This morning I woke up with a full list of tasks to complete: finish Christmas cards, bake holiday goodies, run out to grab stocking stuffers, arrive on time for the family photo session, attend Christmas Eve service and then join family for Christmas Eve dinner. Phew!
Each year I struggle to find that balance between tasks (which can certainly take over if I don't watch it) and reflection. On Christmas Eve, I want to remember what this celebration is really about. The most precious gift — Jesus — and the most precious reality — a God who made the greatest sacrifice possible in order to have a relationship with me. This truth obscures all the seemingly insignificant motions I go through.
How can I settle into the truth? Consider three perspectives of joy recorded in Scripture.
Mary — Luke 1:46-50:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation."
Zechariah — Luke 1:68-72:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant."
Simeon — Luke 2:29-32:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Thinking about the joy of Mary, Zechariah and Simeon, revives my own passion. Imagine the excitement of living at the time when Salvation arrived on earth in the person of Jesus? Some 2000 years later, we still live in the joy and freedom His life, death and resurrection provided. That is a sweet truth this eve of Christmas.
1. Marian said the following at 9:43 AM on Dec 24:
1
Suzanne (and anyone else with big to-do lists leading up to Feasts),
Adopt the FLYlady as your friend!
I discovered her here about two and a half months ago when I was desperately searching for wisdom about how to better streamline the business of feeding my family, running the home...and running after a very curious 1-year-old! I haven't looked back since.
FLYlady also has a "Holiday Cruising Control Journal", which basically divides up everything you need to do for Christmas a little baby step at a time so that it's mostly done in advance of Christmas (I think Dec. 1...I don't know, I'm trying to adapt it to my own calendar, as I celebrate Christmas in 2 weeks).
God bless and Merry Christmas!
2. Vanessa said the following at 6:19 PM on Dec 26:
2
My church did a sermon series called "The First Noels" based on these (and a few others) passages of scripture! I thoroughly enjoyed a fresh look at these songs of joy. We're looking at Simeon's song tomorrow and I'm full of anticipation for what that study will bring!
Hope you finished all your tasks and still had lots of time to enjoy friends, family, and the holiday season.
3. Loris said the following at 8:27 AM on Dec 28:
3
I hosted my disabled parents for my first Christmas in my new house. So I had to handicap-proof the house and put together a diabetic-friendly, potassium free menu. Not to mention, our friend who was staying with my husband and I moved out the day before my husband arrived. Madness!
Sadly, I did not calm down enough to enjoy Christmas. I had a hard time not resenting giving up my bed, any semblance of privacy-I couldn't even hug my husband without someone commenting on it-and ceding my kitchen to my mother. I did not get the quiet, romantic Christmas I was hoping for, but I do hope my parents enjoyed themselves and felt blessed by my care.