Christmas is upon us, along with the myriad of expectations we carry with it. Things like – finding the perfect gifts, entertaining our friends and close family, special holiday traditions like stockings, holiday parties, a photo on Santa’s lap. Expectations run high.
Today, I’m wondering, if I am including or expecting Jesus in my Christmas preparations? Does it take some work?
I’m thinking Advent may be similar to preparing for company coming for dinner. It requires some preparation and planning. Making some room at the table of my life. Clearing out some space. Getting ready for the one coming.
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Do you clean up for company? I do.
At my home I have certain ‘company ready’ rules or tasks. Readying for company requires preparation – making space, where clutter and mess currently reside.
First, let me review the exhausting routine I follow to make my house ‘company ready’.
I must clean. Deep.
Firstoff, the bathrooms must be sparkly – no hair balls left on the floor or signs of a mildew ring in either shower or toilet.
Next, my kitchen usually requires an extreme make-over, involving not only a deep clean of the stove, but general removal of clutter on counters that I’ve allowed to build up to mammoth proportions through-out the week – piles of mail, papers, coupons, you name it.
In addition to the counter clutter, I must attack and conquer the kitchen table which has attracted and accrued its own special brand of clutter.
The result of my kitchen clean-up is a large expanse of bare counter, reminiscent of the wide open kitchen spaces created at my local home improvement store.
When my daughters lived at home, the process of cleaning for company brought out questions – “Why are we doing this? Why can’t we just have someone over without cleaning?”
Why do we prepare for company? Why do something special?
I think it honors our guests. Special touches like a delicious meal and perhaps a beautiful flower arrangement say – ‘You’re special and we want to show it‘. No last minute scurries to the grocery store while company waits; time is set apart, a gift given to them – our full attention.
Readying and making room and space for another involves expectation – looking forward to the arrival of a guest. A very important guest, in the case of Advent – Christ Himself.
The cleaning up for Jesus is different because it doesn’t involve bathroom cleaning, rather it occurs soul-side.
Advent involves preparing space in my soul to receive the most Holy of Holies – God, Himself.
“Let every heart prepare him room.”
How can we prepare room for God at the table of our hearts?
1.Make Space
So basic, yet essential for a guest. Space. A place. An open chair. Truly, my family and my guests feel more welcomed if there is a place set for them – readied for their coming.
If you are like me you might need to clean out a bit for God, too – open up some time. Open up my heart to listen, not just share my to-do list, or my prayer concerns.
Being in God’s presence requires some listening space- a space where I quit talking – sit still – cease striving – and listen. In this way, I celebrate His presence.
2. Great Expectations
I can still remember my mom’s preparation for special company. She would set her table, first with a lovely lace tablecloth on which she laid the delicate Lenox china plates with the dusty rose in the center and the gold rim. These plates were used on rare occasions, as they had to be hand washed so as not to lose the gold around their edges. I knew it was a special event when these dishes came out.
I wonder what it takes in my own life and heart for me to bring out the special dishes? What warrants extra attention and awe for me?
Does the news of God’s coming down from heaven to earth to be with me – does it move me, give me a sense of joyful anticipation?
Joy to the World!
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Let us prepare a place at the table of our lives, and make space in our hearts – prepare him room this Advent.
**Lord, Teach my heart to sing as I look forward to receiving you, my King, this Christmas.
Photo Credit: Table -Unsplash & Ornament – Unsplash, Joy to the World lyrics
