I forgot Jesus this Christmas.

I’ve been so busy with wedding after wedding, moving, unpacking, laundry-ing, cleaning (jk, I haven’t done any of that), MONAT-ing, recruiting, traveling, church-ing, gift wrapping, and basically just running…….and I’ve had to add “forgetting.”

Did you catch it? Oh, don’t get me wrong – I’m reeeeally good at church-ing. We serve in lots of ways, both visibly and behind the scenes. But church-ing doesn’t equal intimacy. Going to church isn’t enough to sustain a relationship, even though I’ve subconsciously been trying really hard to make it enough. My prayer time is essentially nonexistent. My ‘bible studies’ consist of two reluctant, half-asleep minutes of scrolling through my bible app before I set my alarm and pass out.

But by golly, those presents are wrapped.

It’s funny – Christmas is my absolute favorite season, but I feel like I’ve missed it this year. I haven’t had time to slow down for months, and now, when I finally have a chance to take a breath, it’s the week of Christmas. Hardly enough time to truly enjoy the season…or is it?

I know Jesus is the reason we celebrate. I know that. So why is He the furthest thing from my mind? Instead, my head is spinning with gift ideas, Christmas songs, Pinterest cookie recipes, and a creative plan to convince Daniel that we should just leave the tree up until Christmas 2016. They aren’t bad things; it’s just that none of them have any eternal significance.

It wasn’t obvious at first. The King didn’t appear as a marauding conqueror or a persuasive political figure. God’s plan to save the world unfolded through a tiny, soft, squishy baby. He’s the reason we’re alive. He’s the reason we have any hope at all. He is more important than work, holiday parties, and getting together with friends and family. I may only have a few more days before December 25th, but I’m going to spend them in quiet surrender and gratitude. Join me?

“And so this Christmas I’ll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life.”

— from “I Celebrate the Day” by Relient K