For most families Christmas is a time to get together. This usually means everyone congregating in one home and celebrating the festive season as one, big family. It can be a wonderful part of the holiday fun but it can be tricky to find room for everyone. Sometimes you have to be creative, just like the family in this Christmas advert for a UK food chain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz_xt-tEUhQ
It’s not just people who you need to make room for at Christmas. This time of year is known as the ‘Silly season’ and with good cause. Carol services, end of year celebrations, Christmas parties, school concerts, Christmas shopping, family meals, and friendly get-togethers. The list of possible social engagements can be overwhelming. The trouble is that all the festivities are legitimate and important in the their own way. Sometimes however, you really have to pick and choose what to prioritise and what gets left to one side.
Nothing’s changed
You would have thought that in the last 2000 years things would have moved on but really the current Christmas situation bears a remarkable resemblance to the original circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. All those years ago in Bethlehem we know that there was no room for Mary, Joseph and the soon to be born Jesus. All the visitors to the town were legitimately there to take part in the Roman census, but their presence meant there wasn’t room to spare for the family. It wasn’t an intentional plot to rob the Son of God of a place to be, it just kind of happened. Today it’s still possible for things and events that have every right to our attention, to leave little room for the presence of Jesus in our current Christmas season. Just as the baby was given a place in the outhouse away from public view, today we might say a quick mumbled prayer at dinner or remember Jesus as we sing Away in a Manger at a carol service. The rest of our time is spent on other things.
Welcomed with open arms
The birth of Jesus changed the lives of those who witnessed it. Yet there were those in Bethlehem who were in the right place but just looking the wrong way. This Christmas you have a chance to meet with the real reason behind the celebrations. All it takes is choosing to welcome Jesus, rather than closing the door because there’s still no room for Him.
If you would like to know more about making space for Jesus please click on the link below.