glorious mess

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” Andy Rooney

I am sitting next to the Christmas tree, looking at the mess around me from yesterday, and I am wondering, what did Mary and Joseph do the day after Christmas? How did they spend their boxing day?

I know I feel tired and worn out after the merriment and mayhem of my Christmas day. But how would they have felt? Honestly what a massive deal, finding shelter in a stable; the wonderful pain, labour and amazement that is the birth of a child; unannounced guests to entertain … Seriously in our terms this is a Christmas nightmare.

So I wonder how did they feel the next day? The day of quiet, when they finally had a chance to be together as a family, pause and reflect. Did they spend all day gazing at their new little boy? Or were they freaking out about the responsibility given to them – not just a child (which is heavy enough if you ask me), but God’s son?!!!

I imagine they felt a bit like me today: happy; worn out; a little overwhelmed; loving their family time; figuring out their little one’s feeding times and dealing with crying (from both Mary and Jesus – maybe even Joseph too!).

I bet their boxing day felt a lot like a glorious mess to them, like it does to me. So I am like Mary going to treasure up all these things and ponder them in my heart. (Luke 2:19)