The dinner burns.
The baby spits up on your new sweater.
Finances are too tight to buy presents.
Family can’t make it for the holiday.
The neighbor you invited to church didn’t come.
You miss the celebration due to sickness.
The flight is canceled.
That special present didn’t arrive in time.
The weather isn’t cooperating.
You’re stressed and yell at someone you love.
Another car hits yours in the mall parking lot.
There’s no bonus this year.
That one person’s attitude is ruining Christmas (again).
Memories of past holidays are painful.
A loved one passes away.
You’re spending another New Year’s Eve alone.
Yet another year of unanswered prayer goes by.
Life is disappointing. Hurt is real. It may be no big deal, but it is at the time, and it is to you. Most of the above list has happened to me. Disappointment is often my reality because my expectations are high. My self-appointments don’t materialize in the timing or way I imagined. I naïvely believe that everything is going to go perfectly. Inside my brain, it’s all Normal Rockwell, but in reality it’s . . . reality. We laugh about Pinterest fails, but sometimes life is a series of fails. I visualize the desired end result, do my absolute best, and stare at the seeming mess in disbelief. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Why me? Where was God and why didn’t He intervene? Why doesn’t He answer my prayers, protect me from hurt, keep me from sin? Wouldn’t the Normal Rockwell version have brought Him more glory??
A child was born. A son was given. God became flesh. A newborn cry pierced the silent night. Heaven descended into this mess called humanity. The Light of the world dispelled the darkness. Prophesies foretold became promises fulfilled. Impossibilities proved to be possibilities and disappointments to be appointments. Religion suddenly had meaning, pain had purpose and life held hope!
This Christmas, no matter your hurts or disappointments, rejoice! Put your hope in God! The Savior is here, God is truly with you! Reality is still touched by the miraculous. The ultimate Gift was given, for you. Claim it, live it, tell it! Merry Christmas!
***For a chance to WIN a FREE copy of Kristi's new book, Disappointment: A subtle path away from God please comment below about one of the following:
~How have you been disappointed this Christmas, and where has Jesus shown up for you?
~How do you keep Jesus at the center of your Christmas celebrations when the hustle and bustle starts to take over?
To keep the gift-giving going after Christmas, the winner will be announced Monday, December 28!
7 comments:
It seems like every year I have the same problem. The day finally comes, and I can't help but feel disappointed in myself and condemned for really not preparing my heart for the reason Christ came. There's plenty of time, but world seems to pull my heart toward needing gifts for myself or even just plain nostalgia during the month of December. Although I have not arrived by any means, John Piper's advent calendar has been a helpful reminder of why we look forward to Christmas. The Gift of God in human flesh to come to die for a sinner like me is unfathomable. Excited for your book Kristi!
This year, I started reading Ann Voskamp's "The Greatest Gift" as an advent-style devotional. I'm starting to realize that the hustle and bustle is also a choice... it's up to me to skip making the next batch of cookies or attending every single one of the festivities planned. It's been hard to intentionally step back and say "no," to some things, but it can help leave room in schedules and minds to focus on the real reason to celebrate. Great post; I relate totally to the high expectations and disappointment dilemma, but the most beautiful contrast is that His arrival changes everything. Thank you!
This Christmas we have been disappointed by the fact that we thought we'd be living in our own home. We want so badly to be on our own and out of my parents house. It's so difficult living with people who overbear your parenting and question anything you do. But Jesus has shown up by blessing us with gifts for our children and love in our hearts for our family. And we are thankful for that.
"We won't be coming." That was my disappointment this Christmas. We had been trying for at least a month to have all of our children who live stateside to get together for a family Christmas dinner during the time we would come back to the states from ministry in Ireland. We had hardly gotten our luggage through customs when we were informed that one of our children and their family wouldn't be joining us for said Family Christmas dinner. I was crushed. I was angry. It looked as though the in-laws were being preferred over time with our family. As it turned out, I was also wrong. There was a miscommunication. Our family dinner wasn't what was being discussed, but another dinner invitation. Thankfully, I kept my thoughts and feelings to myself. I was able to pour out my anger and frustration to God without having it spill over onto any of the family. The family dinner happened. With five grandchildren, three of our four children and their spouses, it was all wonderful.
We've made some tough choices this holiday season- including a lot of hard "no's". As a family, we want to keep Jesus as our priority by keeping the crazy out. We've also enjoyed signing "Love, Jesus" on the gifts for our kids, and making HIM a birthday cake. I hope my kids start to grasp in their little hearts how much Jesus loves them, and how much we have to celebrate!
Awesome book by someone who has thought through and lived these things...and sought out relationships with others who have lived through various disappointments!
I like that you do that. Matthew and I chose not to do Santa. We are doing the same, saying the gifts are from Jesus and making a birthday cake for him!
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