One of Cynthia Ruchti's goals in life is to hem people's lives with hope. In this thoughtful Christmas UPGRADE, she encourages us to prepare our hearts for the true, hope-filled meaning of this special day.
“I watched the TV show with fascination as the hungry, curious crowd waited out in the cold for hours for the restaurant makeover to be complete," Cynthia says. "But that’s not Christmas. It comes whether we’re ready or not.”
I (Dawn) must admit, it took me a long time to get ready for Christmas this year. Oh, I readied all the "fixin's" of the holiday, but in the rush ...
I wonder if I've taken enough time to prepare my heart.
Cynthia Ruchti continues . . .
It feels as raw as a bitter December wind, but the sting comes from its inescapable truth. Ready or not, Christmas is coming.
I’ve aged out of my earlier years of Christmas frenzy—two or three cookie exchanges, an endless stream of events and holiday parties that often butted up against one another, the perfect holiday centerpiece/gift/tree/decorations/meal ....
I used to make handcrafted cards for all 140 homes on my Christmas card list, while caring for young children, serving at church, writing for radio, and making homemade gifts for the neighbors.
In some ways, I felt a little like Mary’s birthing coach as Christmas neared, begging her, “Don’t push! I’m not ready!”
I’ve trimmed all but the essential and most meaningful from that overcrowded list of Christmas preparations.
My heart had no opportunity to ready itself for Christmas when my mind was engaged in readying everything else.
The heart that wants to be truly prepared for Christmas includes on the calendar only projects, activities, and special events cleared through, approved by, introduced by God.
A new opportunity is added only when there is clear confirmation that participation will draw us closer to the heart of Christmas rather than pull us farther away from it, from Him.
Some who are now taking a different approach to filling (or trimming) their holiday schedules suggest we ask ourselves questions like these:
- Will I be doing this out of a sense of obligation to other people or out of love for Jesus?
- Will my relationships with my family be strengthened or hampered and strained if I participate?
- What will it cost them? What’s the ROI ("return on my investment") of time and energy?
- Can I miss this activity or opportunity without serious consequences or a sense of loss?
- Am I convinced that it will strengthen my spiritual stamina?
Descriptive of Christ’s birth, these familiar words also serve as guidelines for us in our spiritual preparations:
“Keeping watch over their flock..." (Luke 2:8b).
In other words, not neglecting the needs of our “flock”—our families.
“Good tidings of great joy...” (Luke 2:10).
This is not losing sight of the truth that, except for His resurrection, the birth of Jesus is the highpoint in all of history.
“Born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord...”(Luke 2:11).
We realize His coming takes on very personal significance.
“Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us" (Luke 2:15).
We go straight to "Bethlehem," bypassing some of the social activities and so-called obligations of the moment.
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
What would happen this Christmas if we spent less time scurrying and more time “pondering”?
A cherished Christmas song says,
“Let every heart prepare Him room.”
What activity or obligation are you intentionally trimming from your list this year so your heart can be better prepared? Ready or not, here He comes!
Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hopt through her award-winning novels, novellas, devotionals and
nonfiction, and also through speaking events for women and writers. She and her husband live in the heart of 
Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren. Connect with Cynthia at hemmedin hope.com and look for her new Christmas novella, An Endless Christmas.
Graphic adapted, Nativity crib, from Pixabay.