Broken but Good

My youngest grandchildren visited last Saturday while their mommy worked as a nurse, and their daddy did a little Christmas shopping. To make the time memorable for them, I purchased the all-important gingerbread house to put together as a project, and some crafts. The image in my mind was beautiful. We would wait until the youngest, Zeke, was ready to nap, and then work together on the gingerbread house, carefully crafting it and decorating with the icing and candy.

Growing up, we never did this sort of thing, and truthfully, I didn't do these projects with my boys, possibly because I only had boys and no little girls. Now, I want my grandchildren to experience unforgettable moments with us that I hadn't shared with my family growing up.

There is a problem, though. Because I love Hallmark and see people's posts on social media, I only see the "highlight reel" and not what real life is like for most, if not all of us. Everyone's gingerbread houses look amazing; mine, not so much! Upon completion, the gingerbread house was in pieces; not all put together. We were doing so well, and then just like that, it broke apart.

While my gingerbread engineers were young, almost nine, six, and an almost-four-year-old, things were progressing well. I put the house together with sweet white icing, and it was ready to decorate. Pouring the candy to be used to decorate onto a plate, the moment of creativity began. The excitement was palatable as each child left their mark on the gingerbread house. Colorful and bright, all went well until it didn't. I heard sweet Elena, who is almost four, say, "I pressed the candy hard so it would stay on the roof." Then I saw the roof crack, and before I could say "on no," the gingerbread house was lying flat, breaking under pressure!

The pictures of perfect gingerbread houses danced in my head when I heard Landon, my six-year-old, say, "can we eat it since it broke?" They were not disappointed in the brokenness; instead, they were excited that the house was a snack to enjoy! Go figure. The broken gingerbread house reminds me of life this Christmas season.

Do you feel a little broken? This year, when every special occasion has been defined or refined by words such as social distancing, wearing a mask, limited amounts of people, or stay-at-home orders, our way of life seems broken. Many elements of our typical Christmas have changed this year. What are we to do with our broken Christmas plans in 2020?

Possibly, we have added so much to Christmas that isn't about Jesus, that when it is gone, we will be broken but good.

Could it be, when all we have is Jesus, that will be enough?

That first Christmas, Mary and Joseph searched for a place to birth Jesus and found none. No room anywhere. They traveled to Bethlehem for a census because Joseph was a descendant of King David. The Roman emperor, Augustus, had issued an edict that everyone was to return to their ancestors' place to be counted. Not great timing for Mary, but she went. You can read about this in the book of Luke.

Luke 2: 5-7 says, “He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them.”

How appropriate that Jesus came into our broken world in such a lowly way?

Imperfect setting, imperfect parents, imperfect fanfare for a king, and IT WAS PERFECT.

Perfect for all of us who are broken.

Perfect for all of us who may feel alone.

Perfect for all of us whose plans keep changing.

Jesus should get ALL the attention this imperfect year because it's always been about perfect HIM.

That first Christmas, an angel found some shepherds in a field and announced the Savior's birth. The shepherds were surprised and terrified. I can relate. I am often like this when things don't turn out the way I plan, how about you?

"Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2: 10

This year, Christmas looks different to many of us. It's ok.

Our plans seem broken.

Jesus isn't surprised.

He came to a broken world.

So, let's celebrate broken gingerbread houses, unmet expectations, and plans that keep changing. Let's celebrate a Savior who came into our imperfect world to seek and save the lost. We are broken but good, as long as we have Jesus!

Merry Christmas!

Liz