Prepare Him Room!

By Pat

Well, another holiday season is here...each year it seems to come more quickly than the one before it, and I find myself unprepared! It's time to start getting ready for Christmas, my favorite time of the year. It's time for preparations to be made. We will go soon to buy our tree, and I will rearrange my living room furniture so that it will fit...but will I rearrange my heart to make room for Jesus?

I must decorate my house, inside and out. I will remove my everyday knick-knacks so that I can display my Christmas candles, music boxes, figurines and other assorted items. But will I ask Jesus to remove the things in my heart that prevent me from truly celebrating the joy of His birth? Will I discard my pettiness, temper, jealousies and sharp tongue so that my heart will have more room for peace, joy and brotherly love? Will I push away the stress so that I can feel the peace?

I will make cookies-lots of delicious cookies, and I will present them to my family and friends. Yes, I will feed them my cookies! But will I also remember to feed and nourish them with words of encouragement, love and understanding? And will I remember to feed myself a little more of the Word, maybe an extra morning devotion, a longer prayer, an Advent study?

I will play Christmas music, so that we hear the lovely songs of the season. Indeed, my house will have music! But will I also remember to add the music of laughter, love and warmth, the sounds of inner joy and kindness?

And lights. Let's not forget the lights! Lights on the door, lights on the tree, lights in the windows and down the stairway railing...many, many lights. But will I remember that the light of the baby Jesus needs to shine through me? That the brightest light of all is the light of the Savior that cannot be purchased at the store and strung around a door frame?

I want to make room for Jesus in my home, but especially my heart. I want to be a living example of giving, loving, sharing and caring. I want to show the world that Christmas is coming-and that Christmas is love, and that Christmas is Jesus. For you see, no matter how bright the lights, how tall the tree, how tasty the treat, if the heart isn't right, it might as well be just another day.

And so I shall pray. I will pray for God to remind me to decorate my heart with Christmas joy that shows Jesus to the world, and to continue holding on to that joy long after the decorations are packed away.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:15-17)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.