About 10 days ago I read the following story:
The Perfect Christmas
God is using this article to transform me during this Christmas season.
Until now, I hadn't looked at the birth of the Christ child through more than just the biblical description. Today I see Mary, a pregnant, mother-to-be carrying the Savior of the world experiencing some less-than-ideal circumstances.
If I were Mary and travelling approximately 3 days without car, train or plane when I was nine months pregnant, how gracious would I be? When there were no guest rooms available, how frustrated would I be? If I had given birth to the Savior of the world and placed Him in a manger with straw for a bed.... how thankful would I be?
If I were Mary, I might be tempted to think "shouldn't everything be perfect? 'I' am about to deliver the Savior of the world, aren't 'I?' Shouldn't this be perfect for Him?" Ha! As if "I" would have had been responsible for orchestrating anything with the entire scenario!! Too many "I's" if you ask me!
In Luke 1:26-38 we get a glimpse of Mary and her relationship with God.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary had found favor with God. Her relationship with Him was unique and she was truly His servant. I don't believe she looked outside of God for direction, all things came from Him and what He provided was perfect. Whatever that was, she held no expectation and therefore no disappointment, no questioning. She didn't view the circumstances of her labor & delivery as imperfect. She simply trusted a perfect God to provide. In each moment she followed Him.
God is everywhere and in all things. I am surrounded by Him always. However, I don't always look. As a pregnant mommy-to-be Mary reminds me this season and in all situations that God is there and He holds a plan for each day. It is up to me to decide my perspective. Will I choose.... Gracious? Thankful? Joyful? Trusting? Seeking?
This past weekend is a prime example of how God is revealing Himself this season through the imperfections.
I first announced the date of this year's "Christmas Tree Day" to the the family in early November. When I made the announcement my vision was Jeff & I cooking and cleaning on Friday evening, finishing up last minute details. Andie and Alex live at home and so the rest of the family..... Brandon, David, Laura, Joseph & the triplets, Katie & Cliff would all arrive at varying times on Saturday. Whoever was there in the morning would head to the Old Farm Market to pick out the tree. We'd bring it home, set it up, and everyone would join in putting on the lights, sharing our traditional "Tree Day" meal and settle in for the annual watching of Elf.
Nice. Neat & Tidy! Perfect! Right?
Well, perhaps if life were a story. However, nice & neat perfect stories are rarely reality.
Two weeks ago we found out that Joseph would be in St. Louis. I suggested that Laura & the babies come in on Friday night. Then we found out that Cliff would be working. Well, no worries Katie could ride in with Laura. The Saturday before Tree Day, we found out Old Farm Market was CLOSED!?!?!?! Wow! Even this curve ball was a blessing in disguise, because I had secretly wanted to go to a tree farm this year and wasn't sure how to make the change.
The Sunday before Tree Day I came down with the flu. I stayed home from work on Monday and was really queasy the rest of the week. Needless to say the state of the house come Friday was a bit unattended! Thankfully by Thursday I had recovered enough to make lists for what we needed to do Friday night. When we arrived home Friday evening the house was bustling with people and activity. Within hours, Katie was unhappy, Laura was in tears sitting in the van, the babies were having a major meltdown and Andie was in her room still recovering from a head cold. One tear at a time, one hug at a time, one conversation at a time....peace was mostly restored. By 11pm I was working on the final recipe of the evening, the babies were asleep and Laura & Alex were having a sweet girl-time talk while I cooked. What a priceless moment I held near my heart all weekend.
But moments after going to bed, Miss Talulah was in full force for the next 3 1/2 hours. Oh my! Around 2am, I was thankful to be of use and I sent Laura off to bed while I took over baby duty. Asleep at last, 630am came very early as Jethro was having a seizure. I did have things to do so the "dog alarm" was even a blessing.
Minus Joseph & Cliff, we were all assembled and walking out the door at 1030am. This was nothing short of amazing! The tree farm was quite the adventure. One baby meltdown, one shoe that fell off the hay wagon and 8 adults in agreement on the tree.... yes a miraculous adventure. Now we have the tree in tow, ready to go.... or maybe not quite yet. Laura's brakes went out on the van. Given that Joseph was in another state, what a blessing for this to happen when Laura is with us so Jeff can take care of the situation for her. David & Alex head out to retrieve brake fluid. While we wait we find Santa & carolers, mules & goats! What a treat! Before long we are having a snack fit for a King..... stale saltine crackers we found under the van seat. It brought smiles to the babies faces and life was good!
Brake fluid added and off we go. Back at home , Jeff coordinates van repair for Monday. David & Brandon are "shopping" in the neighbors garage and sifting through their moving sale leftovers, another neighbor is in need of a compassionate ear to talk about issues with her son and Katie's unhappiness advances to a new level.
Van to the shop, check. Alex talking Katie through her thoughts & emotions, check. Me spending time talking with the neighbor, check! Brandon & David happy as clams on their "shopping" expedition, check!!
None of those items above were listed on the Christmas Tree Day itinerary! Not a single one!! But they were perfect. The van & garage-shopping distractions kept Jeff, David, Brandon & Andie busy so that Alex had time with Katie, I had time with our neighbor, Laura & the babies had time for a nap.
Imperfectly Perfect.
And now, we are ready to bring in the tree for lights and positioning. Check!
Time to decorate! Almost done...... and...... the tree falls completely over, ornaments everywhere!!! Scared, Lennex is crying, Andie is shaken up and crying. Oh my!
Lennex & Andie are calmed and peace is restored. Tree back up and TIED to the wall.... it ain't going nowhere! Decorations back in place.
Whatever presented itself, we made time to walk through it. In hindsight I will say this is not the norm, but the exception. Obviously I had some kind of expectation for the day. But when the weekend came, the expecations of earlier were just not there. Time wasn't really relevant, people were. It was Good and we were blessed. Looking back the day was incredible! I pray that this exception will become my new "norm." I pray "time" will take a back seat, I pray my expectatation will be to encounter God through the imperfections of each day and joyfully serve a Perfect God who holds a Perfect Plan
Sometime around 8pm the popcorn was made and Elf was starting to play. What a perfect ending to a perfect day.
Imperfectly Perfect that is!
If I were Mary and view the birth of Jesus from "my" expectations, I might have had a tendency to feel "I" had let God down when I landed in a stable for me to bring Jesus into this world. Sad, because my disappointment would overshadow my encounter with God to fully experience Him, His way.
Luke 2:4-7 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Maybe the lesson Mary teaches through example is to simply trust God to provide, without preconceived expectations. In Mary's case God provided His perfect place where He would bring His Son into the world. In the case of 2012 Christmas Tree Day, God orchestrated each event for His greater purpose. If I would have chosen to be disappointed with the day not measuring up to my expectations then I would have missed an all day encounter with God.
I think we define circumstances as perfect and imperfect based upon where we are in relationship with Christ. What I might have deemed as a disastrous Tree Day, was amazingly perfect and unplanned.
Imperfectly Perfect that is!
Life and this world are so full of imperfections. It takes spiritual practice and maturity to find Perfection in the imperfect moments. This weekend was a lesson. I am sure God will continue to teach me and I pray I continue to practice what He teaches and mature into a faith where I will be strong in all situations.
We serve a God who shines brightest in our moments of imperfectness!
Three days of travel, a manger, and a night sky ceiling now paint a picture of a Perfect God who orchestrates every detail.... I pray my view is forever changed.
