Christmas Expectations

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’”
— Luke 1:30-33 NIV

O Christmas Tree

Becoming a mom, I couldn’t wait to experience Christmas through my child’s eyes. When Grant was two, I saw a felt Christmas tree on Facebook that was designed for kids. It had Velcro pieces so that little ones could assemble the tree, which stood upright like a tent. Along with the tree, there were felt ornaments—candy canes, reindeer, snowflakes, and more. At the top was a big, bright yellow star.

I was thrilled to show it to Grant and let him decorate his very own tree. I pulled it out of the box and sat down with him on the den floor. As I began putting the tree together, his attention quickly drifted elsewhere. I tried redirecting him, asking if he’d like to help me decorate the tree. He placed a few ornaments on the tree before moving on to something else.

I finished decorating the tree and placed it in the corner of the den, then moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Five minutes later, I returned to the den to check on Grant. I couldn’t see him, but I noticed the tree was moving around the room. To my surprise, Grant had climbed inside the felt tree and was wearing it like a costume. Ornaments were flying everywhere!

In that moment, I learned a valuable lesson: never set expectations for Christmas.

A Lesson From Mary

Mary’s life did not go as she had envisioned. As an engaged woman, she must have been filled with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. Betrothed to Joseph, her reputation and virginity were highly valued in her community. Then, she found herself pregnant. A pregnant virgin. If there was ever an example of an oxymoron, this was it. But God took care of her. He sent the angel Gabriel to calm her fears and explain her son’s future. God was with Mary, guiding her through the unimaginable.

In an instant, the plans she had made for her future were completely transformed. Mary not only had to come to terms with her pregnancy but also embrace the immense responsibility ahead of her. She was carrying God’s Holy Son—the Savior foretold by the prophets, the Messiah, God with us. Most Christian historians believe Mary was around fifteen or sixteen years old when Jesus was born.

Despite all of this, Mary’s response was, “I am the Lord’s servant.” To me, this is one of the greatest expressions of faith in the entire Bible. Mary knew that if Joseph didn’t believe her, she could face death by stoning. Yet, instead of succumbing to fear or doubt, she accepted the task before her with strength and courage.

Her life was forever changed, but she adapted. Mary accepted her new reality and rose to the occasion. While my example may seem small compared to Mary's, in our modern world, perfectionism often plagues us. The glossy pictures and posts on social media tempt us to compare our families to others daily.

The next time my Christmas expectations fall short, I’ll remember Mary and her remarkable adaptability. She faced an unexpected pregnancy with faith and confidence. If she could embrace that with such grace, surely, I can handle Christmas with my family.

A Christmas Prayer

Lord, please help me set aside my expectations of this season and simply enjoy being in Your presence. Teach me the true meaning of Advent and help me share that with others. Calm my spirit and allow me to fully appreciate each moment spent with loved ones.
Amen.