Christmas Eve Perspective

It’s Christmas Eve Chaos. Or at least that’s what I called it as family entered my home. As I baked a birthday cake for Jesus this afternoon, I did NOT feel very celebratory. Let’s face it. I was Mommy Scrooge.

With all of the beauty and magic of Christmas, madness also infiltrates our attempts at holiday bliss. I made my list this morning, checked it twice, and well, went on a rampage. I stomped. I fussed. I fumed.

It went something like this:

• Bake a cake
• Make chili
• Wash clothes
• Pack clothes
• Ice cake
• Go to Target (I’m insane)
• Go to Kohls (Yep…certifiable)
• Wrap last minute gifts
• Make ornaments with the kids
• Go to Christmas Eve Service
• Try not to kill husband who leaves at 3:00 to serve in said service
• Play Santa
• Try to have some Christmas cheer. What!?

I’m sure your list could match mine and then top it. With all the preparations for making merry, our versions of Christmas Eve fragment into shameful disasters. We smile through our teeth, but the joy never quite travels to our eyes. Or our hearts.

Perspective. God graced me with some much needed perspective this morning during the middle of my temper tantrum. And again this afternoon, while cleaning up one mess after the other. And honestly, I will probably need to be reminded of His perspective a few more times before the day is done.

You see, in the midst of Christmas preparations, my mind began to contemplate God’s preparations over 2000 years ago. What was Jesus’ last day in heaven like before becoming Immanuel? What were His conversations with the Father? What were the angels doing? How did Father and Son spend their time together?

While I cannot pretend to know the answers to my own questions, I am certain heaven is not filled with chaos or discord. God’s preparations would include peace and calm. My own Christmas Eve is unfathomably different from my Creator’s. I cringe as I contemplate the attitude with which I prepare to celebrate the Savior’s birth.

I cuddle with my tiny son’s head against my chest as I type. Breathing in his scent, feeling his arms wrapped around my neck. I have to wonder, was God soaking in His last moments with His son on this night before Christmas so long ago?

I’m not sure but it does bring me some fresh perspective on my attitude this day. Does my list suddenly vanish? Not a chance. However, joy fills my heart as I attend to my tasks. And that, my friends, makes all the difference in my world on this beautiful Christmas Eve.