Luke 2:6-7 “While they were there the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Are you all set for your “Hallmark” Christmas Eve and morning to unfold?  There is the beautifully decked tree bursting with beautifully wrapped presents underneath.  A scrumptious baked breakfast waiting and enticing the taste buds as the children kindly help each other and share in the excitement of each other’s gifts.   Is it more like this?  The needles of the tree lay strewn among the hastily wrapped presents that are then hastily torn open in a rush of chaos.  Breakfast is slightly burned because that family picture took longer than it should have.  The kids are now comparing what they got and who received the better gift or more gifts in the game of one-up-manship.  As Mary lay in the throes of child birth I am confident in saying she wasn’t feeling beautiful and pleasant.  As Joseph watched and helped in whatever way he could, I would guess he struggled to find the blessing in that moment.  Was there a shadow of doubt in their minds and in their prayers as they laid that sweet baby in a food trough?  In the middle of chaos and brokenness this precious gift from God was given.  However you experience Christmas this year, allow this precious gift from God to remain in the center of it.  This gift of love shines a most beautiful light on everything.

Lord,

You came into this broken world to bring love and grace and you are still here, still giving to us.  Let your love and grace seep into every crack and crevice of our Christmas so that despite anything else, we are filled with the true gift of Christmas.  Amen.