1 Way To Lighten Your Load This Christmas
I have a confession to make: I don’t really love Christmas.
Every October 31st, as I walk around my house putting away costumes and picking up discarded candy wrappers I can feel a tightening in my chest. Christmas is coming.
Don’t get my wrong: I really enjoy the reflective time of Advent. I like Christmas movies and sitting by a fire drinking hot drinks that are mulled or nogged. I love the smell of a real Christmas tree and Christmas lights, especially the little white ones.
But, I don’t like being a Mom at Christmas. I find it very hard.
There are too many expectations and pressures. The definition of success at Christmas is both nebulous and very clear - it just has to be perfect.
Welp.
There are expectations from your kids, spouse, friends, and family. There are hopes and desire and unpredictable feelings. There is the pressure of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day being magical and satisfying. And the list goes on.
But, no matter how many to do lists I make, how many new ideas I come up with, how many traditions and activities we do - I cannot control how it will all go. I cannot control if we will get a stomach bug or the flu or if one of our cars breaks own or people are sad or anxious.
My hard work and organization cannot guarantee that everyone will get along, that the day will be meaningful and full of wonder or that the gravy will turn our right, or that everyone will feel loved and seen.
I can’t control Christmas.
And that knowledge makes me want to run away to a warm destination and sit by a pool and pretend it isn’t happening.
It all gets to be a bit much.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These are the verses for all the mothers, fathers, and other wonder makers at Christmas.
The word “heavy laden”, in the original language, is not just the idea of someone laying burdens on you.
It actually means “over burdening yourself”. Jesus is telling us that His call - that we would lay down our entire lives, surrender everything and follow him as Lord- is actually more gentle and easy than the burdens we pile upon ourselves!
Take a minute and think about that. The pressure we put on ourselves is actually harder than what Jesus is asking us to do.
Every Christmas I want to control the Day and ensure it goes well. But what is really going on is that I am trying to play God. I am giving into the lie, to the burden, that if I just work hard enough I can be perfect, I can satisfy my families needs and desires, I can make friends and family reconcile, and keep all darkness and difficulty at bay.
But it is simply not true.
What is true is that Christmas is exactly about Jesus taking on that heavy burden of perfection because we could not do it. It’s about Him lifting humanity up, redeeming, healing, and ultimately resurrecting us from death.
Jesus is the wonder maker, not me.
Jesus is the answer to all pain and suffering, not me.
Jesus is the only one who can satisfy our deepest longings and desires, not me.
Jesus is the one who brings meaning to Christmas, not me.
These burdens were never mine to carry and the load is too great.
His yoke - his teaching and way of life - is easy and light. And that is the yoke he is asking you and me to take up.
The Message puts Matthew 11 this way, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
Dear friend, this Christmas you and I can learn the unforced rhythms of grace from the One who is grace himself. Even in the midst of the busyness.
You and I can ask Him to lift off the burdens we were never intended to carry - the harsh masters of perfection and expectations and trying to be God. And we can receive his yoke, his unforced rhythms of grace.
He asks us to come, as we are, to a manger and be amazed at the beauty of God made man. Surrender all the harsh expectations we have on ourselves, all the belief that we could be perfect without Him and lay them at His feet. And, instead, take his yoke and follow Him.
The surrender might be very difficult but it will be so very good.
As you sit down to make your lists and plans for Christmas, I will leave you with this prayer:
“Jesus - these burdens are too much. Forgive me for trying to do your job. Please take these burdens and replace them with your easy and light yoke. Show me how I might rest in you and find life and joy, this Christmas.”
May you learn from the One who is gentle and lowly of heart. May all the ways you have over burdened yourself be lifted and may your Christmas load be lightened by the only One who was meant to carry it.