The dryer won’t dry the clothes. The dishes didn’t get done the previous night. The trash bag tears as you are pulling it out of the trash can. One of the kids stops up the toilet by flushing an entire roll of toilet paper. The dog gets sick. A miscalculation in the check book causes an overdraft. Someone forgot to put the milk back in the fridge and now it’s spoiled. And someone ate the last debbie cake and put the empty box back in the pantry!
Overwhelming? I think so. All too common? Yep! Add the Christmas season to the already full life and you could become overwhelmed really fast.
I’ve often wondered why God chose the time period He did to allow Jesus to be born into this world. But when I think about the hectic and busy lives we live, I think I understand. Can you imagine Jesus being born in our day and time? Poor Mary would probably be in the hospital for less than 48 hours and of course the visitation times would be limited (sorry shepherds). And would anyone in the governmental circles really care? Probably not because they are gearing up for the next election cycle. Add to this the busyness of buying Christmas gifts and decorating the home, I wonder if anyone would even notice.
But hey, isn’t that why we do what we do at Christmas time? I mean, wasn’t it because of Jesus’ birth that we have a reason to celebrate and give gifts? I hope we don’t get too busy to remember!
Regardless of the time period Jesus was born, life WAS indeed hectic for Mary and Joseph. Can you imagine giving birth in a barn? Mary and Joseph had plenty of moments that could be classified as overwhelming. And yet, they kept their calm and experienced the event of a lifetime. May we learn from them the next time life gets a little overwhelming!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
