Born in a Stable

I needed to keep myself on pace with all my to-do's starting last weekend, but since the shooting of those 20 precious first graders and their teachers, I just kind of lost ability to focus.  I would get on the internet to do my homework and would spend my time reading articles on the shooting.  When I wasn't on the internet I couldn't focus either.  It resulted in a week of me not handling my stress very well.  Things that ordinarily should have been run of the mill became major stressors and I became overly worried that I wasn't getting everything perfect:  sharing time, Primary work, homework, house work, finalizing Christmas plans for my girls, making sure they had cute Christmas Sunday dresses, babysitting, family events at my house, family events not at my house, vinyl work....

Then while teaching Sharing Time on Sunday, and trying to connect with the children that they were once a baby like Jesus, prepared for and loved....I started crying the super embarrassing cry when kids are staring at you and teachers too and your eyes look like dragon eyes and your nose is dripping snot and you don't have a kleenex...yes, I was in panic mode trying to get my eyes and nose to stop dripping...

But, all my emotions just hit me again as I stood to teach that Jesus was born a baby in Bethlehem.  He was prepared for, the world had been waiting for thousands of years for Him.  He was prophesied about.  And He had come.  Born a baby in a stable, probably not where Mary and Joseph would have chosen.  

The Son of God was born in a stable.

And in the past few days of contemplating that thought more fully, I realized I needed to let go of that urge to be a perfectionist.  I didn't get my preschool presents delivered before Christmas.  Some gifts didn't get finished for today.  I finally went to sleep at a decent hour on Sunday night and my bathrooms are still in need of a cleaning.

But Jesus was born in a stable, probably to remind me again and again that things don't need to be perfect for them to be truly perfect. (If that even makes any sense....and if it didn't, enjoy the below picture:  4 little girls who teach me everyday how to come unto Christ.)

Merry Christmas.  Thanks to everyone who were so kind and helpful and giving to us this season.