A Chaotic Mess

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Take a good look at this photo.... a nativity design by Tyson, my 3 year old son. This is actually one of my favorite Christmas decorations. Its a nativity made by Willow Tree. The stable was handmade by a friend but the rest of the pieces are bought in small sets. I've been collecting them over the years because they're not cheap.  I know, I know, I probably shouldn't let my 3 year old play with it but I don't ever want him to feel like the story of Jesus' birth is something he can't engage with. So, I let him play with my expensive nativity scene and ya know, I love watching him! 

After dinner he was playing with the set and talking in his quiet little voice. I'm not sure what he was saying but it was something about the animals coming to see the baby Jesus. For a while the angel and Jesus were hanging out in the stable together but this is the way he left it, in a scattered mess.  The OCD part of me immediately wanted to put it back the way its "supposed" to be but something told me to leave it and really take it in for a moment. So, I did.

As I looked, I asked God, "what do you want me to see here?" And this verse immediately popped into my mind....
 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

WOW.  Everything in that photo is a chaotic mess. Except for Mary and Jesus. There they are, right in the middle of the chaos, sitting perfectly with the stars shinning brightly behind them. As I looked at Tyson's handiwork, I was just overcome with gratitude. Jesus came right in the middle of all the craziness and trouble in our world. He didn't have to but He wanted to. He left Heaven and lived in this terrible place for 33 years and then gave His life so that we could be in Heaven with Him one day. In this world, we will have trouble but HE has overcome the world!

Today I am grateful for the Christmas season, it helps me refocus on the greatest gift of all! I'm also thankful for the nudge the Holy Spirit gave me, to truly take in the nativity scene instead of just "fixing" it and then bringing scripture to my mind. What a sweet blessing it is to have the Holy Spirit right here with me, helping me make some sense of the messes around me. 


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