I hear you, friends. There are presents to buy, cookies to be made, trees to be decorated, office parties to pitch in, family to visit and hearts to be filled. You shouldn’t even be reading this blog. It’s Christmas and there is magic to be made!
My childhood Christmas memories are full of joy, love and anticipation. I was raised in a hard-working, Hoosier family that fully embraced the magic of Christmas. And just like my parents, I work hard to pass that magic on to our little boys. Our home is covered in lights, evergreen and anything that sparkles. We bake and we craft, and we run ourselves ragged. That’s just what you do–work hard to create magical moments. Or is it?
There is only one Christmas moment that I can remember like it happened yesterday. I can still feel that moment and recall that experience. It had nothing to do with twinkling lights, perfect wrapped presents or even sugary treats. It happened in a parking lot.
After church on Christmas Eve in 1988, this little girl in her fancy dress stepped outside into the crisp cold air. It was just before midnight. I remember my stomach dancing with excitement, as I was focused on what Christmas morning would bring. What happened next took me by surprise. It began to snow. I don’t know about you, but I still pray for snow at Christmas! But, this time it was different.
It wasn’t your ordinary, hurry to the car because it’s freezing kind of snow. This was the kind of snow that makes you stop, hold out your arms with palms to the sky and head tilted back. The snowflakes from my perspective were gigantic, falling from the sky in slow motion. And the stillness in the air was deafening. As the clock struck midnight, the church bells rang out against that stillness. From the eyes of an eight-year-old little girl, it was truly magical.
The peace of that moment stays with me today. There was nothing man-made about it. Magic was not created, it was a given. A gift from God–perfectly timed with our exiting the church and the bells ringing out in the night. We could have rushed to the car, ready for bed with a thousand things left to do before Santa arrives, but we didn’t. We lingered in His presence. We sat in the stillness of His son’s birth. We rested in the savior’s arms.
It’s easy to allow our to do lists and genuine, loving efforts to make magic get in the way of the peace, stillness and rest that God has given to all of us through His son, Jesus Christ. We can’t possibly duplicate the magic God is capable of making. Sometimes He does it so simply that we will miss it if we don’t slow down.
This Christmas, I pray that you will linger in the moments He has perfectly timed for you and your loved ones. It could be as simple as snow falling in a parking lot. Can you see Him? Stop, hold out your arms with palms to the sky and let the snow fall.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30