Sloppy Joes And Paper Plates

Read on December 3

Story provided by Jane

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” —Luke 1:32–33

Jane’s family moved every year, first with the army and then because of various job promotions. For the first twelve Christmas seasons, her family never felt settled enough in their community to put down roots. The continuity of the family’s Christmas traditions was made all the more special as a result.

When Christmas Eve rolled around, they’d set up TV trays and eat sloppy joes made with hamburger and cream of mushroom soup because Jane’s dad didn’t like tomato sauce. There were dill pickles, Lay’s potato chips, and chocolate milk. The meal was served using paper plates and cups for easy cleanup after. They ate dinner while watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Later, Mom and Dad would read The Littlest Angel to their kids.

Chances are, Jane’s mom didn’t prepare her mushroom soup and sloppy joe dinner to provide a special memory or teach a priority—but it did. When you think back to your childhood memories, do you remember something elaborate or a simple joy?

Simplicity has never defined Christmas as much as it will this year. We can all “just get through” this holiday or we can embrace its uniqueness. 

What will make this year memorable? 

How many simple joys can you include in this year’s Christmas season? You may be as surprised as Jane’s mom could have been to discover it was the simplicity of the holiday that provided the “pleasant.”

Simplicity best describes the surroundings Jesus chose to make His first home. It was a cave in a small town that had been crowded with travelers. It was just Mary and Joseph’s arms that held Him as He wore swaddling cloth. His bed was a manger, the place animals would use to feed. 

Jesus chose to be born into simplicity. This is one of the only Christmases we will ever experience when we can choose the same. 

The Psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). Now, hear those words spoken to you by Jesus for this year’s Christmas. 

The crowded, busy Christmases will return. But this year we can be still and remember that the baby, born into quiet simplicity was, and still is, God. 

That is the simple, eternal truth of Christmas.