How are you coming with your Christmas preparations?  Are you enjoying them, or are you feeling a bit overwhelmed?  As I thought of all I had yet to accomplish before Christmas Day, I felt quite overwhelmed. Then I thought of Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus, and wondered if they felt overwhelmed.  Did the idea of leaving their home and having to travel to Bethlehem when Mary was almost due to have her baby overwhelm them?

 Did Joseph feel hassled and hurried trying to finish orders in his carpentry shop before they had to leave?  Was he concerned about how he was going to get Mary safely to Bethlehem?  Was he concerned about where they would stay once they got there?  Did he hope he had enough money for the trip and the taxes? 

Was Mary fearful about having this baby away from the familiar midwife?  Did she wonder how she would make the ninety mile trip when she was so heavy with child that it was getting difficult to walk?  Was she fearful of sleeping four to seven nights alongside the road? Was she afraid she would have her baby there?

It occurred to me that there were hassles and stress at the first Christmas, much as there are hassles and stress now.

Did Mary and Joseph focus on the hassles and their fears, or did they remember the prediction of  Micah the prophet some 700 years earlier, that Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem?  Did this knowledge that God was in this, and He was moving them to Bethlehem where His Son was to be born, give them purpose and peace?  Did the knowledge that God was with them give them the assurance that somehow everything would work out, and they would make it to Bethlehem in time for God’s Son to be born there?  Somehow, I believe it did.  Knowing that God was in this and with them, must have given them the assurance and peace they needed for this journey at such a challenging time.

As I thought on that first Christmas, I realized that I needed to change my focus.  My focus should not be the tasks, hassles,and stress, for they are always here – but – that God is with me!  What a wonderful gift – the gift of the loving and powerful presence of Almighty God!  As I focus on His gentle presence, I receive His peace.  I receive His joy.  I also receive direction for what I should accomplish next, and the strength to complete it.  What a wonderful, empowering God!

May we all focus on Him as we complete our journey towards the celebration of that Holy Night when Jesus was born.

Peace and Joy to you this Christmas,

Lisa