May we always be heart ready for Christmas.
Working in the office at an elementary school, I interact with lots of parents and grandparents, and visitors in general. This time of year, I have observed one regular question.
The question my co-workers and I often get is, “Are you ready for Christmas?”
It’s a common, polite question, and for most people, it means on a physical level. Have you finished your Christmas shopping? Have you wrapped your gifts? Have you decided what you are serving for Christmas dinner? Have you shopped for that meal? Is your Christmas tree up and decorated? Is your house clean and ready for guests? The list of proper Christmas preparedness, goes on and on.
But, Christians are called to remember that we are spiritual beings as well as physical and we are also called to attend to the spiritual.
Perhaps the more important question is are we spiritually ready for Christmas? Are we prepared for light to enter into our darkness? Are we prepared for the, “Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace,” to meet us wherever we are on our journey, and to take us by the hand and lead us to something bigger and better than we can possibly imagine on our own?
Are our hearts ready for the peace and joy that come from knowing the truth about that baby in the manger? How can the answer ever be “no,” or “not yet,” or “almost?” How can the answer not always be a resounding “yes!”?
I totally get the physical stuff that goes along with celebrating Christmas. I have gifts to buy and wrap just like everyone else. But, this year, the regular question about being ready for Christmas has given me a new outlook. I have decided that I’m always ready for Christmas because this year, I have decided to focus on the heart part of Christmas, instead of the physical.
I have to admit, it’s been a very peaceful phenomenon for me. Perhaps you would like to try it. May we always be ready to celebrate the entrance of Christ into our midst.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂