Advent 2023, Day 10 - A (Not-So) Perfect Christmas
A (Not-So) Perfect Christmas
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —PHILIPPIANS 4:7 (NIV 1984)
Let’s take a little quiz. How obsessed with the Christmas Season are you?
□ I own more than one Christmas sweater (bonus point if they are ugly).
□ I have Christmas-themed earrings.
□ I have more than one Christmas tree (bonus points for every real tree).
□ More than one room in my house is decorated.
□ I start decorating before Thanksgiving (bonus point if it is before Halloween).
□ Even my pets have stockings.
□ I have a cookie exchange (bonus point if you host it).
□ I make a gingerbread house every year (bonus point if it is a megachurch).
□ I participate in the annual Christmas pageant.
□ Christmas music is all that plays in my car or home in the month of December
(bonus point if you start in October).
□ I watch 3-5 Christmas movies throughout December.
□ I watch 6-10 Christmas movies throughout December.
□ I watch 11+ Christmas movies throughout December.
□ I use the Hallmark Christmas Movie App.
□ I am using more than one Advent devotional.
□ I force my family or friends to wear matching pajamas.
□ Elf on the Shelf visits my house.
□ I attend every Christmas event at church and in my town.
□ I go Christmas Caroling to people’s houses or to the downtown square.
□ I drive around for more than an hour to find Christmas Lights.
Now, tally your score:_______
If you scored between 0-5, you’re a Christmas Grinch! It sounds like you have a good balance of managing the over-the-top with the sweet spirit of Christmas.
If you scored between 6-10, you’re a great Christmas Cindy Lou Hoo! You bring such a sweet Christmas spirit to all you do.
If you scored between 11-20+, you are a Christmas Elf! Part of Santa’s reliable crew, you are bringing cheer and singing loud for all to hear!
I will admit it here and here only. I am a Christmas Elf myself. I think I come by it earnestly since my dad is an expert on Christmas. No really. He wrote Santa’s Biography. I want the Christmas season to feel like magic. But, then life happens. Like the big feelings when the gingerbread megachurch collapses because Toban didn’t make the icing sticky enough (but who’s pointing fingers). Or I am in too much pain to go to the Christmas show I bought tickets for months ago. Or a flight gets canceled. Or the traditional family fight causes everyone to leave the room. The magic of the season doesn’t erase our regular problems. The chronic pain or doctor’s appointments or alcoholism or mental health issue.
The chaos of Christmas can feel anything but peaceful or idyllic. And yet, this is the season we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace, a peace that is instituted not through armies or edicts but through a tiny infant. Truly that is peace that surpasses understanding. So this is the Christmas we actually have—sometimes messy, sometimes frustrating, and sometimes absurdly joyful. May we make room for the Prince of Peace in every imperfect moment.
READ THIS BLESSING FROM THE LIVES WE ACTUALLY HAVE
for when you just can’t find any peace (p. 38)
God, in this dark valley, let your light reach me.
Let your Spirit comfort me.
Help me understand how my body and mind and heart can be at rest even here.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33 (NIV)
REFLECT
1. What are the ways in which you have been trying to force or create peace in your life? How have you been trying to meet the needs of others in order to keep the “peace” in your world?
2. In John 16:33, Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace,” telling us to “take heart!” because he has overcome the world. How might Jesus’ words give you permission to find peace for yourself instead of forcing peace to happen in the world around you this season?
GOING DEEPER
• Take a moment to pray to God to teach you how to slow down this season by listening to “Slow me Down” by The Porter’s Gate (4:11 min), also on our Advent Playlist.1
• What would your ideal Christmas season feel like? Circle the words below that you wish were true (or add your own).
PEACEFUL ENGAGING SILLY TENDER LOVING NURTURING LIGHT-HEARTED
JOYFUL GIVING COZY CHEERFUL CONTENT TENDER MEMORABLE
INTIMATE ENERGIZED CARING DREAMY RENEWING HOPEFUL WHIMSICAL
WARM EXPECTANT CALM INSPIRING RESTFUL FUN FAITH-BUILDING
• Now, let’s get honest. Including the options above, how does your actual Christmas feel? Circle the words below that feel true (or add your own).
RESTLESS FRAGILE TIRING SERIOUS LONELY OVERWHELMING
FRUSTRATING SAD NUMB STRESSFUL ANXIOUS HEAVY-HEARTED
RESTLESS HOPELESS UNCERTAIN RESENTFUL RENEWING DISAPPOINTING
JEALOUS EXHAUSTING LOUD FEARFUL MEH UNCOMFORTABLE
• How can you prepare and make room for the Prince of Peace in your heart this Christmas season? What ideals are you ready to let go of in order to find more peace and more of what God has for you this Christmas?
From "Bless the Advent we Actually Have" by Kate Bowler and The Everything Happens Project