Marty Jean-LouisIt’s easy to fill December with good things. Family gatherings. Holiday traditions. Meals shared around crowded tables. Gifts wrapped with care. Christmas parties, church programs, light shows, and last-minute errands.
These things can be beautiful. They can create warmth, laughter, and memory. But if we’re not careful, we can reach December 25th with every item checked off the list and still feel like something’s missing. In the middle of the decorating and baking and planning, have we made room for the One we’re actually celebrating?
The birth of Jesus wasn’t marked by fanfare or fireworks. There were no perfectly set tables or gift exchanges. It happened quietly. Humbly. In a stable, under the stars, among strangers. And still, it changed the world.
It’s a reminder that Christ doesn’t need a polished setup to enter in. He shows up in our mess, our chaos, and our silence. But He does ask for one thing, room. Room in our thoughts. Room in our time. Room in our hearts.
Making room might look like getting up a little earlier to sit with Scripture before the day begins. It might mean pausing the holiday playlist to read the nativity story out loud. It could be as simple as lighting a candle and whispering a quiet thank you for all that He’s done.
For those feeling overwhelmed or weary this season, the invitation is the same: Come and rest. Come and remember. Come and see.
The story of Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger. It’s about God drawing near to a broken world. It’s about love choosing to put on flesh and dwell among us. And it’s about the peace and hope that are still available to us, no matter what life looks like today.
When we make room for Jesus, we begin to see the season differently. We stop chasing the feeling and begin embracing the truth.
The greatest gift has already come. We don’t have to earn it. We only have to receive it.
So in the middle of the wrapping paper and the recipes, take a moment. Breathe. Pray. Re-center your heart.
Because Christmas is here. And so is He.
