Its About The Cross

I love Christmas.

But as I prepare for this wonderful holiday, in a frenzied race against time. . . I often ponder to myself. "Who am I doing these things for? Am I doing too much? I would like to stop, and sleep and make this be about Jesus. . . "

I so easily am swept up into the hustle and bustle of Christmas. I love getting ready for Christmas. I love planning surprises and gifts. I love renewing old traditions and forming new traditions. I love the smells, sights sounds and everything having to do with Christmas. I love singing Christmas songs. . .

Yet where is Christ in all this Christmas? I find myself frantically trying to do too much. I see myself desperately trying to find time to spend with my Jesus in the midst of all this bustle. I see myself trying to grow quiet and remind my heart of what the true meaning of Christmas is. Yet when I have read my Bible, and thought about the word. . . Bang, and off I run to try and do the next thing on my " Do before Christmas List."

How can I teach my children the real meaning of Christmas, when I their Mama am so busy focusing on things that have nothing to do with the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I know there is nothing wrong with gifts, baking, and all the fun of Christmas. But perhaps I am too carried away by it all. Perhaps the gift giving and bustle need to come at another time- - say, at New Year. Then we could focus our attention on the baby sent to earth for us.

Yet when I think of having a cake or party for Jesus, somehow to me that just seems strange. It is cute, and nice. Yet, if Jesus isn't going to eat the cake I bake him, why should I bake it for him? I guess I find the whole idea a bit silly, of making a cake for Jesus. He doesn't want my cake, he doesn't want me to make something nice for him, just to impress others and then we go ahead and eat it up. He wants me, all of me. He doesn't care about my being perfect, or having everything done on time. He doesn't care if everyone has a gift, or that everyone feels their gifts are equal.

Who really care about all of this? I do, yes I do care very much. I want each person in my family to have a gift. I like having a reason to give them a gift. I want to have tradition's, like Christmas trees and stockings and good food. I want to do all of the things I hold dear at this time of year. But still more, I want to find Jesus, and have him be my center, my All, my Everything.

This song sums it all up, take a minute and listen.