Jesus, The Prince of Peace
One of my favorite Christmas-time memories as a child on our farm in northern Indiana was going ice skating. Across the road from our home was a corn field. After the fall harvest, the field was in perfect condition to capture the snow and freezing rain. The terrain sunk down just enough in one area to allow for the ice rink to form. This patch of frozen tundra provided a large-sized rink for us and our friends to enjoy hours of fun. Lacing up my white skates while donning a scarf, hat, gloves, and jacket was pure delight. My mom was happy to thaw out our frozen fingers with steaming cups of hot chocolate, and our growling tummies were extremely happy to oblige her tasty snacks!
I know you have memories of your own childhood days during this special season! It is not so much about how grandiose the activities are as much as how they provide you with a warmth of nostalgia as you look back on your own childhood. I know you will be making memories with your own children during this beautiful time of the year. Within driving distance there are so many wonderful venues and activities to enjoy with your family! More importantly, inside your home there are memory-making ideas just waiting to be tapped! However, the temptation to not miss a thing can keep the hamster wheel churning at full speed.
One way to hop off the wheel is to consider a several day or week-long fast from social media. That’s right. Is the tendency to compare your life, your Christmas tree, your pre-Christmas experiences with others causing you an ungrateful heart? Is it causing discontentment with the life God has gifted you? These are tough questions, but I believe we need to wrestle with them, be honest with God, and go to Him in confession and prayer. Enjoy the season with our traditions, but resist overdoing it to the point of exhaustion. Your children will remember the simple things: your delight and joy in reading books to them while sipping hot chocolate, for example - the chocolate caffeine will keep them awake so timing is important! How about popping popcorn and stringing corn and cranberries for a festive touch on your tree? A rested mama is the perfect gift to give your entire family! I can see you rolling your eyes; however, I do believe it is possible, but only by praying for guidance and asking with humility that the Lord shows you the way. Seek Him (wise men still do!) to guide and direct your Christmas plans. Or, how about asking for the gift of time from a close friend, a three-hour swap with your children. Pride can often get in the way of our asking for help.
During this season more than ever, it takes intentionality to quiet our hearts - to “be still and know that He is Immanuel, God with us,” and to reflect on our most indescribable and incomprehensible gift – the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ. I have a large snow globe that plays “Joy to the World” and during this advent season, I want to set my heart on the joy of my Savior and the peace He gives me as I trust Him for life’s trials. As Isaiah prophesized in 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Let’s meditate on these powerful names as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
