Tangled Up

I was in a craft store last night and it occurred to me how Disney-like Christmas can be.   The check-out line snaked past rows of fake poinsettias and glittered-covered birds as we stood waiting patiently to purchase our half-price bargains.   Whatever one's fancy, whether glistening white and gold, mod pink and purple, traditional red and green, or nature-inspired, the aisles were ready to create the perfect fantasy Christmas world in our very own homes.

It's not that I dislike the decorations; quite the contrary, they add to my enjoyment of the holiday, but somehow I think we get all tangled up in the "look" of Christmas without getting equally tangled up in the "meaning" of it.  I know I spend hours daydreaming about how my house will look, and then multiple more hours making my dream come true.  I take special care in creating a loving and festive space for my family and friends.  It's an artificial world but we enjoy it.

However, while my manager scenes are a nice reminder of the true meaning of this season, I want my heart to be genuinely prepared to receive the Christ child.  I want to get completely tangled up in the why and the way of His coming.  I want to relive the wonder of His birth and not just gloss over the miracle of God leaving heaven, being born of a woman and changing our world forever.  As a mother myself, I want to sit with the pure, obedient heart of Mary who willingly accepted the God-given purpose for her life.  I want to dwell on the mind-blowing prospect of being pregnant with Jesus yet still a virgin.  I want to wrap my heart around how Mary must have felt raising the Son of God and seeing Him hung on a cross for our/my sins 33 years after giving Him life in human form.


... Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  (Luke 2:19)

Like Mary, I want the true gift of Christmas to be tangled up and treasured within my heart.  Starting with the wise men, we have created the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas; yet the most precious gift of all was the gift of Jesus giving Himself to us.