The countdown began when we started the Christmas Novena and the date is fast approaching! Christmas is just around the corner, literally!
Next Sunday our children will run to the Christmas Tree to find their presents… wrapping paper will be all over the floor; someone will realise we forgot the batteries (this is your reminder to get them NOW); then the youngest will start messing up with the eldest and his/her presents, and vice versa, -some screaming might occur-, then the kids will get hungry but because you’re excited (and also trying to split the fights while taking pictures at the same time) you forgot to make breakie for everyone, so now all the kids are in a major meltdown in front of the Nativity and the Christmas tree!
In the meantime, you are, as a parent, so drained from running-around all week because you forgot something or you were helping prepare the Christmas lunch or Christmas Eve Dinner, or because, as usual, you stayed awake wrapping presents until 1am when you know you should have wrapped them while they were at school weeks ago (next time they’ll all go in Bags!!!)
Whewwww!!
Breath… take a deep breath…
We are 6 days from Christmas Eve. Don’t let the rush ruin your Spirit. You want to get all the things done but you have to give way to the “unfinished” “impossible” and “not able to do anymore”… and embrace it…
The toy didn’t arrive?
It’s ok.
The meals are not the ones you are used to?
It’s ok.
Your kids or yourself got sick?
It’s ok.
Is anyone missing on the Christmas table and your heart breaks quietly?
It’s ok.
You couldn’t make it through all the Novena prayers at Church?
It’s ok.
Did you argue with your husband/kids/family?
It’s ok.
Do you feel Christmas is ruined?
I can assure you: it’s not.
It’s all ok. And do you know why? Because Christmas will still come! Our Saviour will still be born. Your plans to celebrate it might change, your expectations might be destroyed, but your Spirit will stand still in the Lord ONLY IF you put HIM first in all that you do.
The toy didn’t arrive?
Pray, surrender to the Lord.
The meals are not the ones you are used to?
Pray, surrender to the Lord.
Your kids or yourself got sick?
Pray, surrender to the Lord.
Is anyone missing on the Christmas table and your heart breaks quietly?
Pray… pray harder when the memories come flooding and overwhelm you.
You couldn’t make it through all of the Novena prayers at Church?
Pray! Pray for Jesus to be born in your heart no matter what!
Did you argue with your husband/kids/family?
Pray! Pray! Pray! The Rosary is our Protection and Comfort.
Do you feel Christmas is ruined?
Again: I can assure you: IT’S NOT!
Because the Lord was born for YOU.
He was born because He loves YOU.
He came humbly into our lives to love US all, undeserving, forgetful, selfish, overwhelmed… for all of us sinners.
He came, a KING, in a poor family with a brave father and wonderful mother.
God provides. He always does and He always will. Whatever you are feeling, whatever you are going through, that morning on the 25th of December will come to our lives, and without the toy, with the tantrums, with the extra sweets and the extra arguments, with all that extra stress, God will be born and He will give us the greatest gift of all: our salvation!!
Any mistakes, any sins, anything that you think will make you unhappy and overwhelmed or that might make you feel that Christmas is ruined, can be handed over to God and can be redeemed through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Because, -quoting my good friends at C.A-: “Absolution is the Solution”!
Let’s go to Our Lord and make the day a new day in His redeemed Grace!!!
6 days and counting!
God bless you,
Liza, a Maronite Mum
Maronite Mum 