Ruining Christmas

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:17 NIV

Photo: Raye Wortel

It was the same thing year after year.

 

My little sister and I would get up early on Christmas morning to sneak a peek at the gifts under the tree, then we would lie on the couch giggling and guessing what each box held as we waited for our parents and older sister to rise, so we could begin ripping into our presents.

 

And sometime between the first opened gift and the last bite of breakfast, I heard it.

 

“You’ve ruined Christmas, you always ruin every holiday!”

 

It was the same thing year after year.

 

I said something wrong, or did something I shouldn’t; someone got upset, and out it flew.

 

“You – ruin – every – Christmas!”

 

No one knew just how much these four words hurt, or how guilty and shameful I felt when they were uttered.

 

I was a child.  I made mistakes.  I ruined Christmas.

 

It was the same thing year after year.

 

And year after year, I would sit in a chair in the corner of the living room with my nose deep in a book, trying not to ruin the day anymore than I already had.

 

As I got older this painful memory continued to haunt me, and when Christmas became an event I planned with my own family, everything had to be perfect.

 

Exhaustingly, picture perfect.

 

I was not going to ruin another Christmas.

 

But the truth is…

 

You simply can’t ruin Christmas.

 

Defiance, rebellion, and foolishness are the very reasons why Christ came!  It’s beyond any undoing you or I could conjure up.

 

Christmas is about the dirty.  From the feed trough, to the stable, to the shepherds, to us, Jesus came to make clean what we couldn’t do for ourselves.

 

So when you feel worthless, abandoned, and wretched, know that Christmas was made for you.

 

And when Jesus is your life, just like Christmas, you also are beyond ruining.

4 Replies

  1. Jackie Wortel

    Merry Christmas! Hearing from you today was a quiet love filled moment, you made my Christmas even better! Blessings and love, Jackie

    1. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, dear sister. May the Lord’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, cover you now and in the year to come.

  2. Chrissy Pollard

    Wow Renae, you’re awesome! May God bless you with a very UN-ruined, relaxed Christmas.
    Your Friend,
    Chrissy

    1. Merry Christmas to you too Chrissy!

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