Getting Ready

Getting Ready

Phew!  There is SO much to do.  Every year I tell myself Im going to keep it simple.   And I do.  I really do.   We dont have a massive family, we dont spend a fortune and overstretch ourselves financially,  we dont have anywhere to go or loads of relatives to visit .  It really isnt half as complicated as many peoples Christmases are.  But even so I still seem to already be running around like a headless chicken.   So far Ive bought a turkey ( freezer) and a ham.  Ive done nearly all the present shopping and wrapped up most of the stuff that has to be posted.  Ive actually managed to make some cards and write them.  Havent got round to posting them yet :)  Havent got the tree up - much to the consternation of the children.  But did remember to buy Advent calenders .

Its ridiculous isnt it really?  The amount of time we spend just for one day of feasting and celebrating.   Don't get me wrong, I think its lovely that we celebrate.  I dont even mind the commercialism too much .  it's just that it does seem to take an awful lot of preparation.

So why do we bother?

Well, I suppose partly its tradition and because its what is expected.  But I suspect that mostly we bother because actually we think it is important.  We enjoy Christmas and we want it to be a special time.  We enjoy giving and receiving gifts so we put some effort into finding just the right thing.  There are so few times when families get together  ( and no other day of the year when absolutely everyone is off work) that we make every effort to invest in getting to the gatherings and spending on the tickets.   Its worth it.  Its fun. ( awkward relations notwithstanding )

What else in my life am I preparing for so diligently?

One day Im going to die.  And so are you.  It might be sooner, it might be later.  But its going to happen.   I think we should probably all be preparing for that day.  And Im not talking about writing wills and taking out insurance policies.
Jesus said

Now there's a thought.  Talking about preparing - Jesus has spent 2000 years preparing a place for us. Wow!   If He thinks we are worth so much effort we had better make sure we are suitably dressed when we arrive !


Lord, as we prepare frantically for Christmas I pray that you would remind us that there are other, more important things for which we should be getting ready.  Help us to put the same effort into things of eternal value that we do into the temporal.  Amen.