It’s going to be perfect. We’ve got it all planned out. First, we’ll make the cookies. The youngest will crack the eggs (a little egg shell never hurt anyone) and the oldest gets to mix. Set the oven to 350 and don’t forget the timer. While the cookies are baking, their delicious aroma filling the air, we’ll all gather in the living room to decorate the Christmas tree. Like I said: Perfect.

Well, it would have been perfect… until both kids wanted to put up the same ornament – even though there is a box full of them that ALL LOOK THE SAME. Doesn’t matter. They both want THAT ONE. Patience quickly wears out and before you know it the tree is somehow decorated and two of us are crying and the other two are yelling and we’re all left wondering how this all went so terribly wrong. Then, the smell of something burning. Bye-bye cookies. Bye-bye last shred of sanity. I guess we couldn’t hear the timer over the sound of our “merriment.”

Long lay the world
In sin and error pining
Till He appeared
And the soul felt it’s worth.

This goes out to those of us who can relate to the part of the Christmas song that talks about our sin and error pining; to the ones longing to feel some worth. This one’s for the one who is hustling to get through this Christmas season with a little dignity but who is missing out on the grace and the beauty and the rest.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great it is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24

Rejoice! His mercies are new every morning! That right! Each and every day is a new and fresh opportunity to start all over – to fall on your knees in praise and adoration. Grace abounds anew and God reminds us again to look beyond the lights and the presents and the programs and to see the true miracle of this season: Jesus.