Easily Excitable

How in the world is it almost Christmas? 

If I could make a humble confession to you? We have not decorated a bit at the Kotara Cottage-Singlewide. And to be honest and probably *duh*? 

I just don’t think we’re going to get around to it this year. 

(I should add here that our blessed neighbor felt for us so badly that she got us a wreath for our front door. Julie, you did us a service, and we will use this wreath every year from here on out!)

Top to bottom, this has been the busiest Christmas I’ve ever seen. Thursday night, as we were getting food heated up, I just kind of collapsed into a chair at the kitchen table. Then, Trey and I both wilted into the couch while we watched TV. 

Work’s been busy for us both, and add onto that the Christmas festivities? This merriment has exhausted us. 

To round it out is the fact that I got some type of bug this past week: my co-teacher blanched when she saw a Sprite in my hand this past week in lieu of my water bottle.

That’s how she knew we were in dire straits. 

 Then, to make matters worse, I passed my infirmity on to lucky contestant #3- my mother. 

Y’all pray for her- she’s trying to contain a very excited 10 year old and a very, very adorable, yet equally excited, spaniel. 

Nonetheless! I’m still ecstatic! 

You can’t kill a mutt, and in that scenario, I am the unkillable mutt. 

As you read this, I will be on my first day of Christmas break, and with all luck, I won’t have to see any teenagers for a substantial amount of time. And if that’s not a win for you, you’re not a teacher. 

(And you’re definitely not a teacher in a small town with a Walmart heavily trafficked by your students. If I can pull off a teenager-free break, it’ll be a miracle.)

We are 5 days out from Christmas, I’ve gotten most of the gifts wrapped, and all of my shopping is finished, minus a couple of sundries that’ll wait. 

I’m living high on the hog. 

Along with all that Christmas break excitement is the fact that we’re now in ‘family mode.’

We’re visiting our Memphis family, then will head back for Cochran Christmastime to be spent with both the Mullis side and the Meadows crew. 

There’s nothing quite like family time around the holidays- how blessed are we!

To love and be loved is one of the best things in this life. 

That said, I have just a few thoughts as we go into Christmas week:

I know that our world is chaotic right now. 

Looking outside into the world, it seems like we’ve collectively lost our minds. 

If that’s you, I get it. 

I pray you’ll relish the small, extraordinary moments that’re happening in your world, rather than the inexplicable insanity that’s going on outside of it. 

I pray you’ll feel the hope Jesus offers to us- that this disorder we see is just a blip in comparison to the eternal, orderly reign under God, who we will see face to face. 

I know this can be a hard time for a lot of people. 

Holidays of any sort can press all those tender spots that are easier to overlook throughout the rest of the year. 

If you’re in that boat, I’d have you know that I empathize with that. 

I pray you will be engulfed in God’s presence this Christmas. 

I pray you’ll feel the joy we have in our Risen Savior, who loves us so immensely and so sacrificially, knowing your pain isn’t yours to bear alone. 

I know that faith can be hard. 

Keeping focused on Jesus in the middle of all the activities and festivities could be an Olympic sport. 

It always seems that I tell myself to remember the real reason for all this celebration- that hope exists because of Immanuel- that God’s coming down to us is the real point. 

But there are also a lot of distractions that this time of year brings with it. 

If you find yourself in that place, I’d have you know you’re not alone. 

I pray that you and I both can find some reflection time over the next week to focus on our Savior. 

And I pray that we both have peace in remembering that the good news of Jesus Christ is an eternal reality that extends far past December. 

I know that Christmas has a lot of moving parts.  

Gifts to be bought, recipients to be remembered, trees to be decorated, menus to be created, food to be cooked, memories to be made. 

How in the world do you keep up with it all? 

If that’s you, I know the feeling. 

I pray you’ll remember the reason why you want to make this season special. 

It all comes down to love. It’s what wraps it all up. It’s your why. 

And I pray that you would know that this love you feel is a gift from God Himself. And this love you feel for your people? 

It pales in comparison to what this incredible God has for us. 

It is that love that called Him to come down and rescue us from our depravity- from our sin. 

And that? 

The peace, joy, hope, and love given to us by God Himself? 

That’s why we can say Merry Christmas. That’s all that matters at the end of the day. 

What a good Savior we have. 

Glory to You, King Jesus.