This year I realized something. It surprised me, and yet, it also made sense. Are you ready for it?
I could do without Christmas.
Don't get me wrong. I like Christmas. I like making decorations and giving gifts, Nativity scenes and all the music (really!). But if there was no more Christmas celebrations, I think I'd survive.
What I need to celebrate and observe more than Christmas, however, is Advent. Not a little countdown calendar with a piece of chocolate each day, but the season that anticipates the coming of Jesus. Traditionally the weeks leading to Christmas are for preparation of our coming Savior, both remembering Him as an infant, and His promised return.
This year it has helped my heart and my head to think about Jesus' presence. It keeps coming at me as I read books and blogs, and listen to messages and songs. O Come, O Come Emmanuel always stands out. Emmanuel, one of the names of Jesus, means "God with us." Not only God who was with us, or who will be with us. God with us. Now.
It's hard for me to express just how powerful that is to me. I roll it over and over in my head, like kneading bread. And it works its way in. This is how I'm preparing for Christmas and for Him. So I stitched it up into a little hexagon...
...and also made a larger pattern. Maybe you need a reminder that Jesus promised to be with you now and always. Choose one of the designs and stitch that reminder. Keep it around long after Christmas because this isn't something for once a year.
Friends, may you know and experience Jesus' presence this Advent season, and may you find comfort in the God who loves you so much that He sent His only Son. For you.
Beautiful words and patterns Mollie! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThank your for the pattern. So true, if only everyone would remember the true meaning of Christmas instead of getting caught up in the commercialism of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mollie.
ReplyDeleteLovely reminder!
ReplyDeleteAmen. Thank you, Mollie.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how perfect this was. I had concluded once again this year that I hate Christmas - the endless shopping, rushing, and never measuring up give me a guaranteed breakdown every year. You helped me catch my breath. I also want to recommend Watch for the Light (for adults) and Unwrapping the Greatest Gift (by Voskamp, for children) for Advent readings. They are wonderful and truly reflect the Advent season, not only the narrower - but wonderful - Christmas story. I think I will take a break from everything and stitch this message. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteYes! Our family is reading Unwrapping the Greatest Gift! It makes me cry every time. I'm so glad that this post could give the pause you needed. Remember this: all that stuff we make ourselves crazy with at Christmas time can go away (seriously! it's okay to let things go!)...all we need is Jesus. May you find peace in this season.
DeleteThis is a great blog post! Thank you so much for sharing! On December 26, I will start stitching these for the family as a reminder of the real meaning of Christmas! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBest post of the year in my opinion. Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this beautiful reminder :)
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I needed. Ty so much. I once sang "Come oh come Emmanuel" in choir. It is a powerful, great song.
ReplyDeleteJust a few days ago, I was sharing out for coffee/tea with a few sweet friends & actually spoke out loud & quite passionately that "I am not *doing* Christmas this year". I'm tired of the whole commercialization of our sacred season. It's a merry-go-round. Someone needs to do something! Perhaps it's me. This Christmas I'm going to give my family Christmas cards or maybe bake cookies or your beautiful embroidery and a big giant hug ♡ And, of course, celebrate Jesus's birth day! Let's all remember that.
God loves you and so do I ♡ Merry Christmas everyone!
thanks
ReplyDeleteJesus is what we need this Christmas
bless you from samantha
Mollie this post was absolutely beautiful! I used to be a huge Christmas nut and go all out baking wrapping and all the fun stuff but I just can't do it anymore so the past few years I just focus on Jesus and our family... Nothing else matters and the holiday season is a lot more fun this way😉 love you❤️
ReplyDeleteOh and beautiful pattern!
ReplyDelete