The Silly Season

Why is it that things suddenly change when we get to December and start thinking about Christmas? And lately, it seems to be starting much earlier. It’s called the silly season.

Suddenly there is too much to do. And here in Australia, it’s HOT! We’ve got so many things to worry about and so many things to do. We’ve got to put up the Christmas tree, and all the decorations, and the lights outside. We’ve got to do a major clean-up of the whole house. And the garden suddenly needs a major clean up too. (But thank the Lord for the rain, even though it causes the weeds to grow).

There are so many people that should be visited, so many Christmas parties to attend, and gifts to buy, and wrap. Then there is the Christmas letter and/or the Christmas cards. I don’t want to send a card that just says, “To You, from Me,” and postage is expensive.

Then there are all the end-of-year parties to attend. It seems impossible to organise a time for our small group Christmas party because everyone is juggling their own time commitments and holiday plans. And it’s hot!

Our immediate family will be coming to stay, so beds must be found. Extended family get togethers must be organised, and once again the question is about who will host, and who will bring what foods to contribute to the meal. And did I mention that it’s so hot that we don’t really feel like doing it?

I wonder what it was like for Mary and Joseph. Almost nine months earlier, the angel had told virgin Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Wow! That must have been a shock. Then, of course, people could not believe that she hadn’t been sleeping with Joseph. And how must Joseph have felt about the sudden change in plans?

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. but he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 1:24-25 (NIV)

Then, heavily pregnant, Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to be counted for the census. Just a matter of catching the express train? No! They had to walk 129km! From our church in Brisbane, to my mother’s church in Toowoomba is 115km. Google Maps says that it can be walked in 26 hours, (not if you are pregnant).

We will make that trip at Christmas. First, we will take several hours to pack the car. We’ll need lots of stuff – accounting for the change of weather in Toowoomba, all the presents, all the food, and all the things we ‘need’.  The drive will take 90 minutes by car, plus maybe a fuel and toilet stop. I can’t even imagine walking that far.

When we get to Toowoomba, Mum will have prepared her house, and the guest rooms will be set up. The house will be decorated for Christmas, and there will be lots of wrapped presents waiting under the tree. Mum will cook a hot roast dinner, as she always does, and there will be plum pudding, custard and ice cream afterwards.

This was not the case for Mary and Joseph.

While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, and she [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)

Imagine that! Walking a week or more, and then not having a place to stay. No air-conditioned motel room. No place to give birth. No sterilized crib, just an animal feed trough.

God certainly didn’t make it easy for Himself! When I stop amidst all the rush of Advent, and think about all this, I am amazed. Jesus gave up His rightful place in heaven for a manger. There was no place for Him in Bethlehem. About 30 years later, there was no place for Him on earth. He was sentenced to torture and death by the same people He came to save. This astounds me! Jesus knew what would happen, He knew we would reject and kill Him, yet he chose to do it anyway.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I’m often too busy, tired, stressed, to even think about the real reason for Christmas. Please forgive me! I live my life as if I am in control. Please forgive me. I live as if everything depends on me. Please forgive me. You know the mess in the world. You know the mess in my heart. Please send your Holy Spirit to fill me with your hope, joy and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

How are you coping with the silly season?

Do you forget about the real reason for the season?

Are you filled with hope, joy and peace, or stress, upset and worry?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about Christmas and the silly season. You can leave a comment below.

May God bless you this week!