Prepare Him Room

Christmastime is a time of 'preparing room'. Shopping, cookie-baking, special parties, holiday decorating, wrapping, thinking about years of Christmas memories, traveling to visit with family and friends...these are all ways we open up space in our budgets, our stomachs, our schedules, and our hearts. Some of us do it a bit earlier than most (I think Nora finished her Christmas shopping in October), and others wait until the last few days of holiday frenzy (the boys went out yesterday, lists in hand!) But whether you are a super-efficient Christmas expert, or a spontaneous last-minute spaz, it doesn't really matter. The holiday spirit comes upon you whether you are ready or not. I finally joined the bandwagon two days ago when I finished my school finals.

Our family has our own traditional sense of preparing room, too. We like to prepare room for Bing Crosby's rendition of "Chesnuts Roasting..." in our c.d. player; we make time to watch "White Christmas"; we enjoy special Dutch treats like streup waffle cookies and spiced, sugared pecans; and best of all, we listen to my Mom reading "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" out loud while we all laugh until our sides hurt. This year has also been unique--in a literal sense, I 'prepared room' for Nora and Travis, who have come home from Arizona for 10 days to spend their 1st Christmas as a married couple with us. As I emptied shelves in my closet, cleaned, and switched over to the single bed in Brett's room, I smiled at the thought of how 'preparing room' at Christmas often takes joyful sacrifice as well. But this one is definitely worth it---it is SO good to have the family all together again!

Yet, how easy it is to forget to prepare room for the one person that really matters: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When Joseph and Mary knocked on the door of the Inn, there was 'no room' and so the door was shut. Will I open the door of my heart yet, so that He may enter? Have I taken the time to consider why we sing "Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room"? Christmas can so quickly become focused on the presents, the food, the expectations, the wants, the needs, the costs, the worries...but Jesus has only asked for one thing. He has asked us to prepare room for Him in our hearts, so that He may enter it and give us LIFE.

In John 20: 19-26, Jesus says "Peace be with you!" three times. This is in response to the disciples locking up their doors because they were afraid of the Jews in the days following His death on the Cross. I love the fact that locked doors--whether physical or spiritual--does not stop the Prince of Peace from bringing good gifts to us. And the gifts He offers to us are priceless, of eternal value, and more satisfying than any 'thing' inside a wrapped box. Even when we doubt, like Thomas (vs. 25), Jesus declares peace to us and asks us to "stop doubting and believe." And then there is such a wonderful promise that He offers: "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed".

Oftentimes, we do not know how He wants to meet us, or what we are preparing Him room to do in us, but we may rest assured that there is the blessing of PEACE as we make room for Him in every aspect of our life.