Christmas Planning

There are only 26 more days until Christmas. What all do you have left to do to get ready? How many hours over the next month will be spent planning the traveling, planning the get togethers, planning the meals. Some people are already planning out what they will wear to gatherings. Christmas certainly is a wonderful and magical time, but it requires a lot of work on the front end to make sure things go as smoothly as possible when it arrives. I wonder, though, are we planning to meet the Lord as much as we are planning for Christmas?

There are presents to be bought, cards to be mailed, food to be cooked. In our house, we make a list of all the people that we need to be mindful of when budgeting out the gifts. Family, friends, neighbors, coworkers. How much do we spend on each person and who gets what? There is thought and deliberation that goes into the process. Then we have to actually go out and get the gifts, or get the materials to make the gifts. This year I got up before the Sun and braved the crowded stores to take advantage of the sales after Thanksgiving. I wonder, though, are we planning to meet the Lord as much as we are planning for Christmas?

And the decorations! The decorations can be quite the chore to put up, but can you imagine Christmas without them? So we clear out a space in the house to set up a tree and put lights and garland and ornaments on it. We put out nick-knacks and pictures and wreaths around the house. We climb ladders to put up lights out side. Some people even go so far as to decorate their car to look like Rudolph with antlers and nose. We drive around and look at the lights and nativity scenes, all the while telling totally random strangers “Merry Christmas!” I wonder, though, are we planning to meet the Lord as much as we are planning for Christmas?

A lot of thought and effort goes into this holiday because we love it and it sparks in us a sense of hope and joy. If we are willing to put this much time, money, and effort into a holiday, are we willing to do as much (or more) to prepare to meet Lord?