It’s Christmas! Indulge In The Benefits Of Reflection

Every year at some point during the Christmas season, I find myself feeling frustrated with the fact that I can’t ‘do it all’ AND still give room for the true meaning of Christmas to be re-birthed in my heart.

This re-birthing is the most important part of the Christmas season to me. Otherwise, it’s just A LOT of work!

Thirteen years ago, when my first born son, Jadon, was two, I tasked myself with writing our first Family Christmas Newsletter. It was such an amazing experience for me to reflect back on the previous seasons, that I made it a tradition for myself and have been doing it ever since.

Now, with three boys, we’ve made it a family tradition to go back and read all of the previous years’ newsletters. I love seeing the wonder and awe in their boy-eyes, as they too pause and take in their own moment of reflection.

Looking back over the years we’ve shared together – both good and bad – my favorite is seeing how much the hand of God has been interwoven into the fabric of our lives.

Yet every year, when I get to this season, I have that nagging feeling of frustration. My thoughts race inside me as my mind and spirit go to war with each other:

~ I don’t have time for this!

~ I can’t slow down long enough to reflect on the previous year to then be able to write about it!

~ Yet There is NO WAY I’m NOT doing this!

~ It’s THE number one thing that gives birth to the true meaning of Christmas deep down in my spirit, so why wouldn’t I do it?!

~ It’s THE number one thing that gives room for me to see the hand of God interwoven in my life.

~ It’s THE number one thing that gives room for gratitude… no matter how hard or how triumphant the year may have been.

~ It’s THE thing that does its BIGGEST magic on the hind feet of the hardest years.

Indulging In The Benefits of Reflection

Amazingly enough, when I choose to carve out time to reflect on the previous seasons and allow myself to feel the feelings once more, I’m only then able to see the beautiful remnants God left behind.

No matter how hard our year may have been, pausing to reflect positions us to be able to see the hand of God woven all throughout our circumstances; like jewels, He laid along our path, just for us to see in a moment of reflection.

I was recently reading in Galatians, and came across a couple of verses that struck me in a different way than they have before. Galatians 6: 2 and 5 says,

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ…

For each one shall bear his own load.

“Burden” refers to a heavy load that could be crushing.

“Load” refers to something that’s manageable.

To carry a burden for another is exactly what Jesus did for us when he came to this earth. To give each of us the gift of eternal life and remove our burden of sin whether we choose to receive it or not.

To carry the burden of another is to be just like Him. We’re called to do this for one another as we are equipped.

To carry a load, on the other hand… well that’s really our own responsibility. It’s something we’re actually designed to do for ourselves:

… To reflect.

… To slow down.

… To look back on the previous season.

… To linger.

… To wait.

… To pause for just a moment to reflect and search for the jeweled remnants amongst the rubble of our lives.

We’re designed for this.

We’re meant to carry this load and not cast it aside as if it’s a burden.

This load gives life. It rejuvenates the spirit. It lifts our eyes from our momentary troubles and puts them back on Jesus. THE ONE who the fuss of Christmas is all about.

~~~

Can we seriously not find the time to slow down just a bit and look back at pictures and relive the everyday moments of our year?

Can we possibly not spare a few moments here and there to reflect on the past season and allow our hearts to swell up with both pain-filled and joy-filled emotions once again?

Are we not able to carve out a space in our heart to let the true Spirit of Christmas, Jesus Christ himself, be re-birthed in our hearts?

Can we really afford NOT to reflect?

No.

At least not me.

Everything else will have to wait while I pause and slow down long enough to be with my King as He shows me the beautiful jeweled remnants He left behind in the path of the rubble of my own life.

Otherwise this season is just a bunch of hard work.

~~~

What’s standing in your way?

What’s hindering you from slowing down long enough to discover your own jeweled remnants? The ones HE wants to show you and give you? The ones that reflect His presence in your life – no matter what you may have faced in the previous seasons.

He’s here waiting for you.

Waiting for you to slow down and reflect on your past season.

To take your joys and triumph with you.

To take your sorrows and cry with you as you press fiercely into His chest for comfort.

~~~

The gift of reflection is one I’m actually not willing to cast aside. It’s one I choose to pick up as my load. The load I’m designed to carry. The load I want to carry.

How about you?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Don’t let another day go by where you don’t indulge yourself in the gift of reflecting. For in it you will find rest for your soul.

What are your jeweled remnants? Let me know in the comments below!