Merry Christmas!

        Merry Christmas to all! This morning we hosted a small gathering and opened a ridiculously large amount of gifts. Some were little. Some were big. All were wrapped and all put a smile on the recipients face. But now that we're done there's a mess of gifts and unopened toys that we haven't had time to play with. Most of the paper made it into the garbage bags, but I'm sure I'll find paper throughout the family room for the next week. Now we've moved onto my husband's parent's house and we've just finished the second frenzy of present opening. My niece's new doll is lying naked because she's ran off to play with her new bowling set. Logan is trying to put on a magic show with his new magic set, but he's performing while reading the directions. His presentation needs some work. Even when Christmas is as perfect as ours has been, there is a mess. That mess is one of my favorite parts of the day. This year it is full of memories of pleasure, but any mess is a reminder of why Christ came.
       This was a wonderful year, but they haven't all been perfect. Some years have been full of heartbreak and loss. Some have been exhausting with more arguments than I care to share.
       But good or bad, perfect or disastrous everything about this day reminds me that perfection will never be achieved. Even when humanity is at its best we're still a mess. All have sinned and come short of God's glory. No matter what we do we can never to live up to God's standard of perfection. Fortunately, we don't have to remain hopeless. Christ came to save us from ourselves and restore the world. This restoration will take place in His time, but He is currently waiting with open arms for all who believe in His power as the redeeming savior of the world. God loved the world so much that He sent his only son to pay for the sins of the world that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but will have everlasting life. 
       Look around. Are you alone and missing family this year because of divorce or loss? Is your family separated by sickness or misfortune? Are you sitting in the middle of a room full of love strewn full of paper and gifts? Are you looking at a sink full of dirty dishes from a Christmas dinner? Whatever your circumstances, look at your mess and praise God for sending his son to redeem the world. Thank Him for the mess that serves to contrast His perfection. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!