When Life Gets Messy

The holidays are always such a busy time. Even with C-19, we still feel we must find that perfect gift for each person on our list.

For some, the holidays are a struggle. They’ve lost loved ones, a marriage has ended, they didn’t get the promised promotion, their kids’ lives are a mess. In our area, people have even lost homes due to the floods of the summer. The list could go on and on. You get the picture. Life gets messy and being merry is the last thing on our minds.

DARK MOODS

With my sister having recently gone to Heaven, I haven’t been in much of a holiday mood myself.  I know where she is, but I miss her presence here on earth. Some days I’ve struggled.

I had such a day this past week. The tree was up but was unadorned. The effort to make it all sparkly with ornaments seemed far beyond my reach. Pun intended as I’m only five feet tall and our tree stands at nine feet. Fitting for my mood.

Decorating that tree was the last thing I wanted to do. Just opening the boxes with all the ornaments seemed too much of an effort.

I was having one of those days. The ones where I go to that dark place where I want no one else to enter. Indeed, I do my best to avoid all human contact on those days.  No one would want to join me there.

But, it isn’t in my nature to give in, so, I put on a semi-smile and decided the task wasn’t going to take care of itself. With a deep breath, I entered the sunroom where the naked tree stood, towering over me. There, in front of the windows were plants that must be moved. After all, we’re a family of nine. The gifts would be many. Those succulents would have to take up residence in a temporary home until after the holidays.

ONE BIG MESS

With a heavy sigh, I began to move them. The first one didn’t balk at being taken from its usual digs—the floor right in front of the windows. Resting securely in the new location, I returned for his companion. As I stepped up into the den, I reached for a leaf that had fallen into the draining saucer beneath the pot. The top-heavy plant protested such a move, tumbled over and over onto the floor, only to be followed by its fellow plant and alas, the little pot and all the dirt.

Potting soil flew in every direction.

Such a mess seemed my undoing. Holding myself together had taken all my strength and resolve. I sat on the floor and watched as my tears mingled with the dirt from my little pot. I thought of my sister and other family concerns. It was simply much too much. The dam burst.

As I sat in the middle of the dirt, I leaned over and began to sweep at it with my hands. Clearly, the mess wasn’t going to clean itself up. My dear husband rushed in and began to clean my mess. I did my best to help, but in my state, I shouldn’t have bothered. Still, it was my mess and I was determined to clean it. He swept up the dirt, brought new potting soil from the garage in which to re-pot the poor little plants, then, I followed his efforts with damp paper towels.

Mess cleaned, plants happy in new soil and their new location, I needed some quiet time. The tree would have to wait.

When Life Gets Messy @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #Christmas #Messiah Share on X

LISTENING TO GOD

As I entered into conversation with God, my world began to right itself.

With each breath, my spirit began to feel more and more of God’s presence as that peace that passes understanding washed over me. (Read Philippians 4:7).

I looked up at my bare tree which reminded me of our Savior—Jesus, the Messiah, the One who would hang on a tree for me.

We were decorating to celebrate His birth. (Read Luke 2:1-20).

God sent us a Messiah to clean up our messes. While I can clean dirt from my floors, I cannot clean the sin from my life. That took the blood of Jesus, poured out for our redemption. Our sins, paid for by giving up His life in place of ours. (Read 1 Peter 2:24).

This, my friends, is Love. It was God’s plan from the beginning of time to clean up our messy lives with the blood of the Lamb of God.

It’s the story that unfolds from Genesis chapter 1 all the way through to The Revelation to John, chapter 22.

May this eternal story fill your heart this Christmas and may you feel His presence with you in all of life’s messes. Reach out and touch His garment’s hem. (Read Luke 8:43-48).

Blessings, y’all!

 

I know. David Phelps again. Y’all know I love his voice. God gave him such a gift. I have a weakness for tenors (but I married a baritone who is now a bass). I’ve sung this in so many churches and nursing homes and all over the place at Christmas. I can’t sing those high notes these days, but they’re still in my heart. I do love hearing David sing them. May this bring you to your knees before our Savior.