But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” – Luke 2:10
As you can imagine, these Advent devotionals are written far in advance of Advent and Christmas season. While I write this devotional, it is early fall, the trees are green, and I mowed my yard this week. To write this devotional, I have worked to turn my thoughts to Advent and Christmas season. I am playing my favorite Christmas music and thinking about the wonderful story of Christ found in the scriptures.
When I think about the wonderful time leading up to the great celebration of Christmas, I cannot help but think about my mom. We affectionately referred to my mom as “Mrs. Christmas.” She started working on Christmas day in September. She made a plan and worked so hard to make that day special for everyone in my family, and I have a big family! The plan for Christmas was kept on a small, yellow legal pad. She would keep her to-do-list, adding to her chores daily, and marking off items often. She worked so hard to make it perfect.
By the time Christmas day arrived, my mother was, well… exhausted. Each item on the yellow pad was marked through, everything was just so, and many of my memories, especially in her last few years of life, were of my mom sitting in her chair on Christmas day. Although she was tired, and her house had gone from a Christmas paradise to being filled with family, dirty dishes, wrapping paper, and the chaos that comes with kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, aunts, uncles, and cousins, her heart was filled with joy.
Much like my mom, I find I operate my life on a to-do-list. We all do. Each day is filled with necessary chores for home, work, school, and family. We work so hard to accomplish the things we find necessary. We put so much effort into creating a life that will bring joy and peace for ourselves and our families. We do accomplish so very much and yet, at the end of the day, we often sit, exhausted and worried about the next day.
I believe that, in part, this is why God sent His Son, Jesus, to us. He watched as we worked and toiled to accomplish our daily tasks. God witnessed us striving to bring peace to our own lives and he knew it was a task far too big for our own labor. God did not ask us to add more to our to-do-list. God did not give us longer days to work. God sent His Son. It is the arrival of Jesus that brings to us the joy and peace we all long for. The Advent season is an opportunity for us to connect with the God who knows our labor and our exhaustion and says to each of us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
This Advent season, I want to encourage you to sit down, and spend some quiet time with the God who offers all that we strive for so diligently. Sit in your chair, not in exhaustion, but in a moment of peace, and know that God is with you, and in Him, you will find rest for your soul, peace in your mind, and joy in your heart.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
