Signora Sheila

It starts earlier and earlier every year, the hype and commercialism. Christmas stuff and Halloween gore side by side in the stores. Ads, articles, and movies all working to make us think we’re missing out on the perfect Christmas.

The search for the perfect celebration can make Christmas a frenzy of stress and rush. The exhaustion of finding the perfect gifts. The exhaustion of preparing the best meal. And many would like get off the merry-go-round but don’t know how.

So I’m going to suggest a new idea, or at least one that was new to me! ;) Let’s go back in time and travel with Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem.

Journey with Mary and Joseph

The poor couple. They’d made all the arrangements. The midwife had been engaged, grandmother on hand. Swaddling clothes and warm blankets were folded and ready. And Joseph, no doubt, had crafted the finest cradle of his carpentry career! Everything was ready.

Until this journey to Bethlehem was thrust upon them. What if she gave birth on the way? What if they didn’t have enough water? What if something went wrong?

Had she packed enough swaddling clothes and warm wraps for the baby? And the knife and string to tie off the umbilical cord? Joseph might need them. Such thoughts probably plagued their minds as they descended from Nazareth into the Jezreel Valley.

But what about their hearts? How did they prepare them for the monumental event that was about to take place? What can we learn from them about preparing our hearts for Christ? How can we make more room for Him in our hearts and lives?

Preparing our hearts for Christmas

Lessons from Mary and Joseph on preparing our hearts for Christ this Christmas season.

1. Slow Down

Take time to remember the reason for the season.

If Mary had been at home, she would probably have been busy with last-minute preparations. Getting everything just right for the birth of the child. Just as we do before a big event like Christmas. Cleaning and decorating, trying to create the ideal holiday. With little time for reflection.

All they could do was trudge on, mile after mile. A journey of 98 miles in 4-7 days. Ardous, especially for a woman in Mary’s condition. And there was nothing for them to do. Nothing to do but walk or ride.

Maybe it was part of God’s plan to force them to slow down and focus on what was important. To focus on what HE was doing. And to give them plenty of time for prayer, contemplation, and heart preparation.

Let this be an example for us. We often get so busy that we lose sight of what the holiday is all about. Let’s take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and how we should keep it in our lives.

2. Keep the story at the forefront of our minds

Relive the wonder and joy of that first Christmas.

We don’t know if Mary and Joseph understood the full implications of Jesus’ birth. But we can be sure that the angels’ words to Mary, Elizabeth’s greeting, and Joseph’s dream played over and over in their minds. We also know that they had long awaited the arrival of the Messiah. No doubt they had little else on their minds.

We don’t have the same sense of anticipation that they did. But we can relive the wonder and joy of that first Christmas. By replaying that miraculous event over and over again in our minds. Read the nativity stories in the 1st and 2nd chapters of Matthew and Luke. Focus on who Christ is and why He came. Let it really live in your heart.

3. Focus on what we have, not on what we’d like

Keep your heart focused on God’s promises, and your eyes on what’s important.

Mary and Joseph were ordinary people. Joseph was an ordinary father who wanted the best for his family, not a stable full of smelly animals. But instead of wishing for what they didn’t have, he concentrated on what was important. Soft hay for Mary and the baby. Hot water, a warm fire and nourishing food.

Mary lacked most of the usual comforts, perhaps even a woman to help her in her difficult hour. But labor was upon her. She had no time to pine for what she didn’t have. So I’m sure she kept her heart focused on God’s promises and looked forward to them with peace and joy.

Your own Christmas

Are you tempted to wish for things you don’t have? To have all your loved ones around you, or more money for gifts and better food? In your situation, the idea of creating a perfect Christmas for everyone may seem ridiculous. And in all the chaos and disappointment, you’ve lost sight of its true meaning.

Or are your greatest desires to have food on the table and someone – anyone – to share the day with? And the very thought of Christmas depresses you.

Or are your greatest desires those of having food on the table, and someone-anyone- to share the day with? And the very thought of Christmas depresses you.

I have good news for you.

You can stop looking for the perfect Christmas because it happened over 2000 years ago.

With Mary and Joseph in the village of Bethlehem. Far from loved ones. With no place to call home. And without most of the material comforts. But even without all those things it was perfect in every way.

And you can have that same perfect Christmas too.

Just let the true meaning of Christmas take root in your heart. Slow down and relive the wonder and joy of Immanuel, God with us. Let that restore your joy and wonder at Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all from Italy!

📷 Image credits: nativity & star; travel to Bethlehem by The Edge Group/ Lion Hudson Ltd; Jesus’ birth by http://www.LumoProject.com