Picture Perfect Christmas
~ impeccably decorated (& clean) home ~Christmas cards complete with family picture and letter ~ buying the “perfect” gifts ~ a beautiful, classic Christmas tree ~ exquisite food and desserts ~remembering the poor~Christmas programs~opening the Advent calender doors and taking time to celebrate Jesus~ Christmas cheer and good will to all men- only ramped up more than usual ~ho!ho!ho!~
Stressed out yet? LOL
It is a fearful, burdensome task to “appear” perfect. .
LOL. I’m growing into my authentic life. 🙂 It’s not always easy to be transparent and allow others to see the messy, crazy life our family lives. I remember how exhausted I used to be, getting ready for the holidays, trying to create my own “perfect” family Christmas celebration. ‘
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I remember hyperventillating during the Sears family portraits- don’t laugh- getting 6 kids ready and making them all look at the camera and smile AND look at the camera in unison was a miracle! LOL The good thing is, God has pried my hands off the control button and I’ve pretty much been able to “let go” of my impossible standards. I’m learning to enjoy and relish LIFE as it happens. Once in a while, that old controlling perfectionism rises up though.
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For instance, yesterday, I videotaped Bethany reading Isaiah 9:6,7. (see video below) It was a grand fiasco from start to finish. My desire for perfection started to rear it’s ugly head but I squashed that impossible thought and enjoyed the hilarity of the moment. Part of me wanted to edit this clip so badly and “present” Bethany in a “stellar” way.
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But LIFE isn’t picture perfect and you can’t edit everything down to sweet and lovely. Mountains of laundry pile up, dirty dishes multiply, dust bunnies reproduce under beds, and attitudes aren’t always sugar and spice and everything nice. 🙂 What to do? We can’t edit, redo, or even begin to be perfect.
But the awesomest thing is, Jesus doesn’t expect perfection. 🙂
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[Tweet “Fear Not! Jesus doesn’t expect #perfection. He loves us in our ChristMESSES. “]
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In fact, He said ” you all fall short from my perfection- but I will cover you with My perfection. Fear Not!”
When some people look at Bethany- they see downs syndrome: someone who looks different, a girl who talks different, is small for her age, and perhaps they even judge her as broken- imperfect- subpar.
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[Tweet “God #treasures us as His #children- not upon our #perfection or #GoodWorks. “]
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But when I look at Bethany (as with all of my children)-
I see my child- my treasure- my delight.
And so it is with God- our Heavenly Father!
Jesus isn’t put off by our messiness (look where He was born and what time period He came to)- so we need not be afraid of our brokeness or imperfections. And this is a great reason we shouldn’t judge others in their messes. If anything, our acknowledgement of brokeness and sin should move us with compassion and understanding for others!!!
We’re all marred by sin.
But the GOSPEL- the good news of great joy is this: God loves us and delights in us! We are His treasured possession. He hates what sin does to His creation and was motivated with purposeful intention to “put on skin”, come into our world to save us from darkness and bondage! He knows we can’t do it on our own! He wants to give us power to live by His Spirit and transform us into what we were meant to be in the first place!
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So- FEAR NOT! God is faithful to finish what He started- and He’s not done with any of us yet! 🙂
[Tweet “God is #faithful- His #love never ends. Joy to your world-#CHRISTmas #FEARNOT”]
Well- here Bethany is-unedited: with all her fidgeting, losing her shoe, hurting her eye, wiping her nose, blowing her nose, and finally reading Isaiah 9:6
Surprising Treasure: I Corinthians 13- LOVE NEVER FAILS. 8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. 9For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). 10But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). Yay!!!!!
Cindy, it says the video is private. 🙁
I’m glad you told me- I’ll change it right now! 🙂
Bethany is ADORABLE!!! I love her reading! What a precious child of God!!
Thanks Lori. She’s my sunshine! 🙂
Oh, I’m so glad to hear your voices! What a precious child – I’m so glad you didn’t edit the video. It has true life, this way, and it is delightful. How well you write about the agony of trying to have everything “perfect.” How well I know that sense of responsibility for “making Christmas bright” with memories for others to carry through their lives. Until one year, after my flu shot, I was sick all of Advent. I decided I could fret over all I wasn’t able to accomplish, or I could “come away and rest awhile,” and enjoy everything others were doing, instead. I can’t say I recommend getting sick to do it, but that was a memorable Christmas season, with so much to appreciate. Thank you for another terrific message, Cindy! <3
LOL- well- 🙂 I’ll have to post another when we aren’t struggling with colds…. I love how you pointed out that you DECIDED- so much of “growing up” in Jesus for me is not taking on a victim role and feeling sorry for myself but DECIDING to set my eyes on Jesus- NOT mind over matter or a positive mental attitude- but learning to take it to Him, give it to Him, leave it with Him, and look for what He was going to do next. Hugs Edy! To HIM- who is the One who makes every Christmas beautiful!
*Like!* 🙂
That’s our Bethie Boo. (my nickname for her…) Yesterday I took her Christmas shopping. She picked out gifts for her two living grandparents, her mommy and daddy, and all five of her older siblings ‘all by myself,’ as she likes to say. It was so much fun and she was so excited!
(Don’t worry sisters-in-law, she has shopping plans for the two of you as well… and she’s already thinking about what to give her two nephews and neice.)
In a world of retakes, photoshop, edits, and digital imagery we have to learn that God sees us as we really are and loved us enough that way that He sent His perfect child to redeem His broken ones… “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!”
Amen. 🙂 hugs
Cindy, Bethany is precious & your message was so “perfect” 🙂 for me to read/hear right now! Home with a cold/flu, probably won’t even venture out to church & women’s Christmas tea :(, house isn’t decorated yet, leaves still in the yard, and I don’t have the children & their activities as an excuse!
But I am praising God in all things & will not fear–His perfection has me covered & He is at work within me even in this!
Blessings to you & yours!
Hugs Cecilia- It is so hard to have life “stopped” from our plans. I’m praying you and Jesus have a special, beautiful time together- one where He speaks especially to your heart in the quietness of your moments. blessings!!!
Her smile is always just perfect!
Your blog, as always, is joyous and inspiring. Love you, love you all and God Bless!!
Thanks Allison- she does love to smile 🙂 We miss you all- hugs and God Bless.
Thank you for your words and thank you to Bethany for her reading. It’s perfect in Cousin Debby’s eyes. Cindy, your statement about letting go of YOUR impossible standards really hit home. I remember lying awake Christmas Eve nights (yes, more than one year) worrying about whether I’d found the perfect gifts for the kids, if they would like what was under the tree, etc. Silly me. Who set that standard? I did. Sadly, I recently heard our sweet daughter in Sunday School questioning how she could be the perfect mother, wife, teacher, etc. And who set her standard? Did I help? Do we listen to what the world tells us or The One who loves us the most?
I could echo your sentiment Debby- “silly me” Oh how good and wonderful it is to grow up in Him. Our next mission- pass the message onto our daughters and younger women so they don’t get bound up by impossible standards. The root is good- it comes from a heart that wants to please God- but somehow it can get twisted so easily into a “beast” of do’s and don’ts, failures, and impossibilities where we lose sight of His marvelous love and delight in us. If I can do anything the second half of my life- I want to share and encourage people in His unending, incomprehensible, amazing love for His children. Hugs-