Every Christmas it’s the same. Too much shopping, too much wrapping, too many things to do, too many people lamenting that there’s not enough focus where it really belongs:  the coming of the Savior.

We’re all overburdened, overworked, overextended, over the limit, and overwhelmed. And all the craziness that comes before Christmas is enough to send anybody over the edge.

Maybe that’s the point of it all:  to make us realize just how much we need that Savior, how much we need redemption, how much we need to find rest for our souls.

If our preparations for Christmas leads us to realize our limits and brings us to our knees, then we have well and truly prepared our souls. It is only when we are on our knees, before the Cradle and the Cross, that we will be ready to receive the greatest Gift.

When God became man and came into the world, he arrived in the humblest, messiest of circumstances. This Advent, we can allow him into our world to bless our messes and open our hearts.

Even if we’re still not done shopping, wrapping, packing, baking and decorating yet.

Especially if we’re still not done shopping, wrapping, packing, baking and decorating.