A Weary World Rejoices - Five Days of Preparing Your Heart for ChristmasSýnishorn

Read Matthew 1:18-25 paying attention to Joseph's decision-making process.

Oh, dear Joseph! How I feel for you as I imagine you lying awake at night, wrestling through the confusing tangle of thoughts and emotions you must have been experiencing! Analyzing the situation from each angle and weighing every possible plan of action. All while trying to stay afloat amidst the flood of betrayal and hurt you must have felt. To experience such life altering circumstances so beyond your control. Talk about anxiety…

What would happen once the neighbors found out? I can see you wince as you imagine mouth-covered whispers and averted eyes. Backs turned away in disgust. What would happen to Mary? Oh, the tender compassion and kindness you seem to have held in your heart for her! That you would even begin to entertain going against tradition, acting in complete opposition to the justified and accepted punishment of adultery during that time. I can just hear the counsel you may have received from close friends. Their efforts to try to talk you out of what to them seemed irrational thinking. How unimaginable it is that you would even consider what might be in Mary's best interest! Betrothal being as permanent a commitment as marriage and you seeking to protect her when she had seemingly disrespected you so deeply!

And yet, that is where we find you in the story as it goes. Closing your eyes to sleep, having finally laid a well thought out plan. You seem to be at peace with your decision. Intent to do what makes sense to you. Ready to put it all behind you and move forward in a new direction. Probably hoping for a good night’s rest at that! Little did you know…the matter was far from being decided.

Far beneath the layers of conscious control, you dream. Enter, an angel, an explanation and an urgent command. “Father this child. Commit your lifetime to Mary. Believe in Me.” 

And all of a sudden, your well laid plan flies out of the window! 

Don’t be afraid? Well, I can certainly understand your fear! This is the second complete shift in direction you are having to make! So much uncertainty comes with this new plan. Are you sure you heard correctly? You realize what you’ll face, right? No approving applause from your audience or verdict of innocent from your judge and jury. 

And yet it seems a no-brainer for you. Confident now that this change of direction is for sure a God-thing, you wake up and simply do what you were told, moving forward on a path that proved far from easy and rich with eternal significance. 

You have my deepest respect, dear Joseph. 

Sitting with self:

How do you respond when you have to shift directions, when your well laid out plans have been changed by circumstances outside your control? As you reflect upon recent changes you've had to make, do you notice any residual feelings you are carrying into the holidays? How might your joy “quotient” have been affected? What reassurance might you need or want from God to move forward with these changes? 

Sitting with God:

Change can be scary, God. It can be so hard to loosen my grip and trust You. I get going on a certain path, all my energy invested, my thoughts laying out the steps ahead, eyes set on my destination. And when something comes hurtling in from my blindspot, i feel so shaken and knocked off course. But if I know You won't let go of me, I can shift directions. I just need to know You're with me. No matter what. Help me to know You're with me this Christmas, to accept any changes that might come and to trust You with new directions.

Sitting with others:

What do you expect your holiday season to look like this year? How might you need to be “flexible” with these expectations? With your plans? With people? As you consider interactions and gatherings and how different they might look this year, what expectations need to shift or be held more loosely?