“In This Mess, I Will Remember!”

The Christmas boxes are outside on our deck just waiting to overtake our home! Not sure how I feel about all of that! So here is the conversation Father and I had this morning!

“Father, the girls are so excited about decorating for Christmas. I am staring at all those boxes out on the back deck that have been cooped up in our garage all year. They are dirty and dusty, and there are so many of them. I don’t want all of that mess in our house. I can’t keep up with the mess already going on in our house. How do I cope with what is about to happen? And I am supposed to like all of this – enjoy it! I can’t believe we have already had 10 Christmases as a family! 10! How can the time go so fast? What memories are we making? I certainly don’t want a fussy mother etched in their memory as we go through the decorating! What is my problem? What is on your mind?” (deep breath, sigh, deep breath again).

And Father says back to me: “You are undone already! No amount of Christmas boxes and stuff is going to make that any worse – you are undone. Mess is unavoidable. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Embrace the mess, for it is in this mess that Jesus came. He entered your dusty places and brought his light, his love. And just like the mound of boxes that you see outside, we bombard you with it. We want to overtake your life with extravagant grace. So let the boxes tumble in. Let them overtake every room in your house and celebrate our pursuit of you and your family.”

So grateful for your invasion, Father! (a more restful sigh now). And I can say now with a more grateful heart – bring it on Christmas decorating! Overtake our home, every corner! And in this “mess,” I will remember Father’s story – For God so loved . . . that he sent Jesus as a ransom for me (John 3:16 and Hebrews 9:11-28)! I have been bought with a price of crazy love, and I am forever grateful!

Before you begin your decorating your home, take a minute to remember the story. Circle up as a family and have some conversation. Here are some ideas.

1. What is Christmas about again?
2. Give your own take on why you are decorating.
3. Read Hebrews 9:11-28 and talk about the gift of Jesus coming.
4. Pray together – everyone, give Father some words about Christmas.
5. Lean in to the extravagance of his love – his crazy, beautiful invasion of grace!