Today begins the third week in the Spirit of Christmas series. I am delighted to host Shelly Miller as my guest. I first connected with Shelly through her blog. Her personal stories often so closely mirror my own. I love how Shelly bares her heart to her readers. She’s done no less here. Be comforted as you read.
When your kids can’t seem to get out of bed and you’re running late, the milk has soured and you forgot to run the dishwasher. The sink and counter are loaded with dirty dishes you were too tired to wash last night.
When you can’t find a place to sit down because the folded clothes from the laundry stack in piles over every surface, and all you want to do is take a minute, sit down and think.
When the photos you had professionally taken on the beach for a Christmas card are still in your inbox and you know in your heart it’s not going to happen . . . doing a Christmas card that is.
When Christmas shopping with your husband means stopping in the middle of a crowded sidewalk, in the aisle of a store, and between conversation over bowls of soup for phone calls and texts from work. When he suddenly says to you, while standing with your arms loaded in line to make a purchase, we have to go now, I have hit a wall and I can’t do this anymore.
When going to church feels like too much work and God speaks to you through a movie made fifty years ago instead.
When being hungry sounds better than trying to decide what to fix for dinner.
The thought of wrapping the bags of presents you bought, putting them in cardboard boxes and standing in line for an hour at the post office brings a lump to your throat.
When the small talk with the cashier at Trader Joes informs you about the large number of homeless people sleeping in hotel rooms, you consider returning all the items you just purchased to help someone out.
When all these things happen during the same week and picturing yourself screaming in the middle of a field sounds amazing, it’s in that moment of desperation that you realize what your heart is longing to experience.
Peace. Not a place or circumstance, but the person.
And when you are still, crammed between a stack of towels and a pile of socks on your couch with your eyes closed, you notice the faint chirp of birds, the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen, the whir of cars speeding past; that your breathing has a rhythm to it in the quietness.
You thank God that he sent Peace to take care of what overwhelms you. The reason why you celebrate Christ’s birth bubbles to the surface and your brokenness becomes a place of tearful beauty.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners . . . so now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. ~Romans 5:6, 11
Have you taken a few moments of silent listening lately, to hear the one who knows you best?
Shelly Miller is a writer, photographer, clergy wife, mother of two teens, and a leadership coach. She enjoys writing stories that make people think differently about life, helping women discover calling and the luxury of being inspired by foreign culture. Find out more about why she thinks rest is the secret ingredient in the recipe for fulfillment through the Sabbath Society. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Redemptions Beauty where she blogs several times a week.
I’m there this morning, in the space between being present in my place and longing for the Person of Christmas. So thankful for the reminder that He alone brings peace in all the places where I feel overwhelmed.
This week, its the one that makes me crazy if I allow it. Right now I’m in the throes of getting ready for my mother-in-law to arrive. Why is it when you have so much on your plate you start cleaning out closets? ha! Thanks for being here Lori.
Sounds so much like my reality:)
Glad to know I’m in good company Louise. Look forward to seeing you later this week!
I hate this season. I love God, but hate all the crap of Christmas. It’s sickly sweet and is worse than heartburn. I hate not having the idealistic family. I hate being alone, I hate being in crowds, I hate food intolerances and liver disease that have robbed me of my last joy. I hate a Christian University that has turned the God I loved into a God I don’t know. I’m sick of babies being born around me while my womb has become a tomb. “Here, hold my baby – it’ll make you feel better”. That’s complete crap. I’m tired of it all.
Tracy, you’re not alone. The Christmas season is such a struggle for so many of us, even if our circumstances are different. My heart aches with yours this morning. I wish I could give you a hug (sometimes that’s the only thing that helps me). You are loved.
Tracy, echoing Rebekah’s thought here in the comments. I’m so grieved about your circumstances and praying you can feel the palpable presence of Jesus wooing you to Himself as you struggle. He is with you in the heartbreak, the loneliness and loss. He redeems what looks like a whole lot of “crap” for His purposes, I’m living proof of that.
To thank the God “who sent Peace.” Just the reminder I needed for this Monday morning! Thank you, dear friend.
Waving over here and nodding my head with you Christie. Thanks for following me here to Rebekah’s place.
Ah, Shelly … we are resonating together, heart to heart …
Glad to know that Linda, empathy is a powerful thing isn’t it?
Have you been to my house? LOL – but in the middle of the mess – I invite Him in – and, oh, the difference it makes! Wishing you much blessing! Much much blessing!
I know, I know, we’re all there aren’t we? I’m trying to do that too, invite Him in and let go of the list.
I think a lot of us will relate to this post, Shelly. Christmas is a great season, but it brings with it a special stress as well. I wonder how Christ feels about that.
Praying for HIM as our peace today. Thankful for this strong reminder!
Lisa, I picked you in a drawing to win Rebekah’s music. Thanks for sharing your comment. Send me your address to shelly@redemptionsbeauty.com so I can get it to you.
I look at the stress as an opportunity to make Him personal in the midst of it. Do we surrender the things like the dishes, the lists, the photos to him or do we feel like it isn’t big enough to lay at His feet? That is what I’m asking myself this week.
Shelly, you do such a good job of describing the typical hecticness of the holiday season!
“When being hungry sounds better than trying to decide what to fix for dinner.”
I actually did this, one evening earlier this week…chose to go to bed hungry, because I was just too tired to bother eating.
Blessings to you and your family, this holiday season!
Ah, so nice to see you here Joe, thank you for the generosity of your words. I love that you get this . . . even going to bed hungry, yeah, I’m right there with you. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
“that your breathing has a rhythm to it in the quietness.” Yes, I love that moment in the Chaos, when we remember the Prince of Peace, and realize that He is here in the crazy, the chaos, the making it all cute. But it is in the quiet that we realize it.
It’s easy to forget, isn’t it? When life gets full and crazy there is a tendency to think He is absent, but he is right there in the middle of it, waiting for us to stop and recognize his presence. He is awesome.
did you see me standing in that field, shouting? Or maybe you saw me stuffed between the laundry and the squabbling kids and the long check out lines. Thanks for this, Shelly. It sings to my heart, a weary song of peace unfolding. XO
It sounds like you’ve had a hard day Kris. Praying for you and sending you virtual hugs. Wish I could snatch you away for some laughter and coffee, lots of coffee. Love you big.
When life overwhelms like this, oh how we “thank God that He sent Peace to take c are of what overwhelms you”! Shelly, you have crawled into the spaces of our lives and hearts and revealed the struggle to hold on in the everyday mess and mayhem. And you have also gently pointed us to the One who holds all things together ~ yes, even our pitiful attempts to introduce perfection into the pressure of a season renowned for its draining effects and also our very souls that sigh weary into His arms. The only place to find true Peace. Thank you, friend! Xx
I feel the kindred kindness of your words Joy. Thank you for your encouragement, you are truly a gift to me.
This post and all the comments makes me both comforted and a little saddened. It comforts me to realize that I am not alone in the frustration and pain that comes each year in with this season. However, I am so saddened that I (we) have let the expectations of the world over come me celebration and enjoy the truth of the season.
I think the stress makes us aware of our need for Him in a way that nothing else can. I’ve been listening to the hardness, the difficulty, the pain and finding God beautifully in it. It’s a new way of seeing His presence so personally.
Shelly,
So thankful that peace is a Person, Jesus…yes…those times of stress reveal to us how much we need Him…praying you experience His peace this season…and if it makes you feel better, we won’t be sending out Christmas cards this year….blessings to you
Me either Dolly, I’ve let go of the expectation. Thanks for being here friend.
During the four days of being surrounded by layers of sleet and ice, It is so wonderful to know the Prince of Peace. He held my hand as I drove down icy roads to go to work and return home. Buying a few small items for family presents; remembering the birth of the baby and the soon return of the King of kings
Thankful you’ve been safe in horrible weather Teresa, and felt his presence protecting and leading you through it.
I did finally take a few minutes to listen yesterday (Sabbath!), Shelly, and it made all the difference. Beautifully and wisely said, lovely friend.
{and thank you, Rebekah, for hosting Shelly over here at your lovely place – it’s nice to meet you here!}
It does make a difference, doesn’t it Michelle? I’m not sure why I decide to do it last, after I’ve tried everything else, instead of going there first. So thankful for the Sabbath Society and your presence in it.
I had the thought that screaming in field could be help at the present but I am going to resist and consider that am longing for Peace. Plan on spending the day in my jammies tomorrow. I have a thousand things to do but only one thing is needful…
Hoping you have a peaceful day of breathing deep, letting go and filling up Dea.
Shelly, I’m so glad I found you here at Rebekah’s (whose words and music I also love). You were hiding in my stupid SPAM file. Honestly! That doesn’t sound so peaceful to me–just obscured. Thank you for the reminder that Peace is a person. Even when we don’t have peace, as Christians, we have Peace….the wonderful, counselor, almighty God–the Prince of Peace. I think one reason I don’t experience Peace, the Person, is that I confuse Christmas traditions and activities and expectations with the Person of Christmas, the one who was born for my sins, the one of whose birth I sing. These are really two different things, celebrating Christmas as most Americans have come to think of it–the gift-giving holiday–and not so much only honoring the Gift-giver. I wish the Holiday (in the way we think of holidays–not holy days, their original meaning) and Christ’s natal-day anniversary had never become intertwined. Still, how grateful I am that He has intertwined my life in His and that Peace does give me peace when I let go my expectations (and demands) and just surrender and receive the gift of Him. It’s really all I ever need and ever will. I love you, Shelly. I’m so glad that sweet Rebekah asked you to share. You are such a blessing!
Muchlove,
Lynn
Love you too Lynn, look forward to your post coming up too.
I needed this little reminder today, Shelly. Merry Christmas, Beloved. Much love to you 😉
Laura, you are just the loveliest lady. I so loved meeting you at Allume. Any friend of Shelly’s….!!!
Merry Christmas!
Lynn