Good Enough for a King

With Christmas just a few weeks away, I’ve been busy making to-do lists in my mind. With so many of them running around up there, I decided to jot them all down. I had a list for everything for everyone that we have already gotten gifts for and made a separate list for things that we still need to buy. I made a list of foods for Christmas weekend, made a song list of songs I must sing for a Christmas event, and I even made a list of a few other decorations I still need to get for my windowsill.  While making one of the lists, my son reminded me for the (I have no idea what time because he’s asked so much) time that he wanted, a pellet gun and a ukulele “and mom,” he added, “Papa is going to get me real gold, but if he doesn’t will you and daddy get me that too?” I gave him that mom smile and said, “we will see.” I started to feel overwhelmed, and why is it that my kids tell me they want something in September for Christmas, but by the second week of December, they change their minds, ha! In all reality, Christmas is my most favorite time of year, but it comes with stress, busyness, and sometimes a guilty feeling that we just can’t buy enough, do enough, or be enough. 

After Christmas present requests and endless lists, I asked the boys, “why do you think Jesus was born in a barn? They both simultaneously said, “because there was no room at the inn.” I told them they were right, but I asked again, “The God of the Universe introduced His Son to the world for the first time, and He didn’t choose a palace with gold pillars, or the most grand building ever built, He chose a manger full of hay and a barn. George quickly responded and said, “mom, it’s because He doesn’t care about those kinds of things.” 

In my moment of being overwhelmed, peace came over me and I was reminded of the “important” part once again. It is no wonder that songs like, Silent Night or Away in the Manger have stood the test of time. These songs highlight the important part of Christmas. Jesus, our great rescuer, the bringer of peace, stillness, and a surprising royal humility, that goes against every worldly king ever born on earth. Why did I ask my boys about the barn and the hay? Because, I myself needed to be reminded in that moment what is important to Our Father and search my heart once again.

These next two weeks before we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we all be reminded as we buy gifts and hustle and bustle in the last-minute details of the celebrations to come, to pause and reflect on God’s heart for this time of year. God broke the relevance of the culture on Christmas day. The most important King to ever live was born on hay in a manger where animals eat. Why such a lowly state? I am not sure, but what I do know is what can be more accessible than a manger full of hay? From the time the SAVIOR of our world came to existence, we can find peace and joy in the knowledge that Jesus is and always will be accessible for all to know him. He didn’t choose the golden pillars, He didn’t choose gates and guards, He chose a birthing place that we can all relate to. He reminded us in this bold action what is truly important to His heart. It’s not the stuff, it’s not the gold, it is simply, Him and that He gave the best gift of all, His one and only Son to save the world. If a manger and hay is good enough for a King, let whatever this year bring be good enough for a sinner. Let’s make His name known this Christmas season and keep Him always at the center of why we celebrate this special day.