Crazy Christmas!

“This is crazy!”  I’ve said it more than once already, and find myself saying it every year.  The crowds seem to get more crowded and the cranks seem to get crankier.  It never ceases to amaze me how commercial we get with all of this.  From shopping to long lines to no parking to too many parties to pleasing that person with that special gift…  How could it get crazier?!?  But the ones that know what this season is all about need to just stop…stop and take it all in again.  I mean, Christmas is meant to slow us down so we CAN celebrate. 

Hey, you think your life is hectic and this season is a pain...? Joseph and Mary are made to travel some 80 miles, a three days journey in the most inconvenient of circumstances.  (There's a reason why doctors slow the travel schedule down when a woman is near her due date...) And, when they get to their destination, the town is so crowded that there are no places to rest, not even for the poorest of the poor.  So, Joseph and the greatly expectant Mary, settle down in a stable, and that's where Jesus is born.  Crazy! 

But before the story shifts, Mary is found pondering all these things in her heart.  So, for you and me, we need to remember that a crazy Christmas didn’t start with ours.  And, before our holiday runs away from us, let’s take time to ponder…some much needed time…some holy time.  Here are some suggestions:

• Attend a family candlelight communion service.
• Schedule a home-bound evening to read and reflect on THE story.
• Share a meal with the less fortunate.
• Serve in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

So, here’s the idea: at some point, let it be a “silent night” for you and those you love.  Stop the craziness long enough to embrace the Main Character of Christmas!

How can you slow down the Christmas celebration at your house?