By: Susan Bea Good

Christmas is two days away. I thought I was finished with the rushing around, but discovered this morning that we needed dog food and milk. So, off to the store I went, hoping to get in and out fast. No chance though, as parking spots were as sparse as shopping carts.

Every year between Thanksgiving and December 25th I am known to lament that the crush of holiday demands is too much! The only people not scrambling to the finish line are the children. Of course kids love “the holidays”…to them it means fun and family. I easily lose sight of that simple assessment.

Every year seems to bring more complications into my life. This year is the same in that respect, but different, in that I’ve decided to embrace the crush, by releasing expectations of perfection, and looking instead for moments of  joy.

These moments come when I respond with interest to the cashier’s small talk at the grocery store, genuinely inquire on the condition of the bank teller’s family, take the time to drive to a student’s location to receive her thoughtful Christmas gift, enjoy a few hours of grandson chaos, agree to a Christmas Eve movie with daughters, and leave the messes and last minute wrapping for the last minute!

Chaos can break a person, or it can make a person…which one is often our choice. This Christmas I am choosing to let the chaos make me… more patient, more imperfect, and more prone to joy!

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11/ESV)

The purpose of this blog is to encourage Christ-followers to see God’s Big Picture and be a part of it.