The One Way You Can Keep Opening the Presents [a story in photos]

So it came and went and she didn’t get it all done.

And the basement was a mess and two of the boys got into a squabble and there was no ham, only soup, and somebody slammed a door — hard.

And she’d smiled thinly… and then smiled relief.

The One coming to the manger, is the Messiah who assures you: It. Is. Finished.

He came to do it all… so you don’t have to have to stress at all.

She exhaled — The point of Christmas — the truth that ushers you into the New Year — is exactly that: you can rest in His perfection— because He embraces you in your imperfection.

Her greatest gift was He loved her just for being — not for doing.

Come Boxing Day, the days after, she stood in her kitchen with pots all over the counter, and burnt pans soaking in the sink and just decided:

She wouldn’t let anything ever come box up the wonder that God. Is. With. Us.

He entered the world right at a muck pile — so we wouldn’t ever be left alone in ours.

That’s what she preached to herself: Whatever mess I am in… I can exhale relief: I have a Messiah who meets me in it, won’t leave me in it, will carry me through it.

There is nothing to fear: God. is. Here.

Christmas — Christ. with. Me. — is just beginning… the greatest gift that always fits, that never goes out of style, never wears out or breaks down or ever, ever fails. That’s why we get to re-joy-ce and re-joy-ce now, always.

“Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

So she picked up the scrubber and that burnt pan and she murmured thanks, just for one gift at a time.

She kept her rhythm by this counting of gifts.

And it was in this attitude of gratitude that she could feel the grace of it:

Yesterday …. was our Lord’s grace.

Tomorrow….  is our Lord willing.

Today…. is our Lord’s gift —

which is why everyone,  everywhere, calls right now the present.

 

 

Related:

some favorite Christmas things on sale …

The One Thousand Gifts 60 DAY Devotional: a 60 day devotional … with numbered journal to count 1000 gifts to never stop opening presents

 

Click here to download the FREE EASTER / LENT Devotional: The Trail to the Tree{please give it a few moments to download… thank you for grace!}