Have Yourself A Mary (Not A Martha) Christmas!

If ever there was a time to be a Martha, it's during the Christmas season. There is so much to be done yet so little time to do it. Decisions to be made on the 'perfect' gift, one that doesn't break the bank but also says "I love you" and "I put time and effort into this gift"while managing to give appropriately to everyone on 'the list', deciding whether it's real cards that are being sent out (or if you are super ambitious-  handmade cards!) e-cards or no cards at all this year, getting to the post office before the cut-off date only to find yourself in a line out the door, fighting with traffic in the shopping centers on the roads and in the grocery isles and checkouts, decorating and trying not to lose it every time the family pet or beloved child pulls down any bulb, stocking or garland within 2 feet of the ground, until finally collapsing at the end of the day after spending hours upon hours in the kitchen baking the traditional treats (or in my case, re-inventing the traditional treats to fit gf/vegan ingredients and failing miserably time and time again) to place in the perfect tins before you realize you didn't stop for one moment to truly connect with anyone you encountered throughout the day. You didn't have time to take the call from your lonely aunt who goes on and on about her afflictions, or respond to the request from your cousin who 'fell off the rails' a few yrs back and certainly doesn't fit into your 'Christ filled' ideal to join the family at your house for Christmas dinner. Besides, there simply isn't room!! And your not made of endless resources! I mean truly, how easy is it to become Martha when anticipation is building to create the perfect Christmas experience? One thing I love about this time of year IS the anticipation and preparation combined with excitement. Why? Because it's how it should have been when Jesus was born, but in fact, it almost went by without the world noticing. If it weren't for Heavens joy spilling forth to the earth and a few faithful 'heathens' who recognized the signs of Christ's birth in the sky, the occasion would have gone un-noticed by mankind... Particularly those who had been given the honor of waiting and watching for the time to come. It's easy, even as Christians with all knowledge of what's to come, to get caught up and lose sight of what's important and what it is we're waiting for. Imagine if we each prepared our hearts daily for Christ's second coming in the same exuberant way we prepare our homes and lives for Christmas? What a different world it would be that we live in! But instead we spend countless hours preparing the things that don't mean much while neglecting the things that mean the most. Relationships. Taking the time to listen. Expressing love and saying "I love you", not waiting to say how proud you are of those you care about and to those who really need to hear it. Saying "I'm sorry" and mending a broken heart, being a time giver to someone least expecting it. What we need most this Christmas is each other. That's what God has always taught us, and what He has always cared about most. Love each other. Even if it's hard and uncomfortable at times.

Sometimes love is messy. It goes against the Martha in each of us, but it's Mary who sat, giving her all, at Jesus feet who received the tremendous blessings. And it's a place we all need to strive to find ourselves. Taking time to let the world around us fall into chaos if for one moment we can connect with the heart of Jesus by truly allowing God to use us in ways we really don't want to be used. This year, I challenge each and every one of us (myself included) to have a very Mary Christmas. And to continue preparing for the most exciting day in history yet to come. Jesus triumphant return. 

- Naomi Striemer