December 24, 2021
An Imperfect Christmas
Suzanne Eller
Today’s Truth
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
Friend to Friend
As your tree is dragged out of the attic and Amazon boxes arrive on your porch, is it okay if we admit that Christmas is often imperfect?
Maybe like me, you try to be in ten different places at one time, yet no one is happy. A relative tells that story from your childhood that embarrasses you every time. Your child throws a fit as relatives cluck their tongues and shake their head.
Instead of trying to plan the perfect Christmas, what if we made room in our plan for imperfection from the very start?
When Uncle Joe starts talking about politics, we plan to slip into the kitchen for a second helping of pie or to take a walk. When that person is unhappy because we can’t be everywhere at once, we plan to remind ourselves we did the best we could and let them work out those issues on their own rather than bear the burden.
Most of all, we plan to keep our eyes on the true gift of this season.
In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet foretold of the birth of Jesus.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
Wonderful Counselor.
Mighty God.
Everlasting Father.
Prince of Peace.
The prophet didn’t understand all the details to come, but what he did know is that in a world of imperfection, God’s representation of love would be perfect.
Christmas is not about the perfect family, or the perfect dinner, or the perfect present, or making everyone feel perfectly happy. It’s about Jesus. It’s about the beautiful, grace-filled truth that God loved us so much that He sent His Son that we might be rescued, made whole, and loved.
Christmas is wonderful and Christmas can be hard. As you slip away from Uncle Joe, perhaps that is a perfect time for you and Jesus to share a moment of gratitude. As you sit with your overtired child, maybe it’s also a moment you can show him the Nativity set your grandmother passed down and share the story of Jesus. Maybe the plan is to simply take a deep breath, thanking God for the grace He’s shown you over and over, which allows you to give a little grace to someone else.
And during that imperfect season, as you keep your eyes on the One who is perfect, may Christmas be a little less pressure-packed and a lot more peace-filled.
Let’s Pray
Jesus, Christmas is not about being perfect. If that’s my measuring stick, help me to reassess and reassign those unrealistic expectations. Thank You for the meaning behind this day and this season. You truly are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What an amazing gift, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How might it change your focus if you allowed for imperfections from the very beginning?
What would that look like?
- Maybe that person always says the wrong thing, but they love you like crazy.
- Perhaps the dressing you prepare is too salty, but the laughter around the table is contagious.
- Maybe your heart feels frazzled, but your loved one is kind and protective.
- And when everyone else is a mess, Jesus loves you more than you can imagine.
These are the perfect moments in that imperfect day.
More from the Girlfriends
In Suzie’s book, JoyKeeper: 6 Truths That Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Joy, she invites you to explore key joy stealers and how to exchange them with JoyKeeper truths that change your heart and your faith.
One joy stealer is striving for perfection. Suzie shares how to release those expectations to find the joy in the everyday.
Read the first chapter of JoyKeeper absolutely free.
© 2021 by Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.