Have you heard of Advent Conspiracy?  It’s not really an organization, but a reminder to “Spend Less, Give More, Worship Fully, Love All.”  My mom put it really well when she said, “We decided we wanted a good Christmas, not a goods Christmas.”

I love the ideas involved in Advent Conspiracy and have implemented some of them in my own family.  Therefore, at the beginning of December this past year, I was completely relaxed.  When people asked me if I was ready for Christmas, I’d serenely reply that we were keeping it simple and so I didn’t have too many preparations.

Then mid-month I panicked.  I realized that my kids hadn’t fully signed up for this and might feel unloved if they got nothing but a few stocking stuffers.  Suddenly my simplicity seemed woefully inadequate.  I scrambled to make up for lost time and spent the next two weeks in a state of breathless, gut-wrenching anxiety and activity.

On the morning of December 20^th, I picked up reading in Luke 1 at verse 46 – The Magnificat, Mary’s Song.  I read less than one sentence and stopped short.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… (Luke 1:46-47)

Mary got the point of Christmas.  She was “ready;” she was paying attention; she praised God and rejoiced.  She didn’t get wrapped up in what presents everyone needed to have, or about feeling fat from too many Christmas goodies, or any of that other stuff.  In the days that followed, Mary’s words were a centering prayer for me.  Any time I started to feel overwhelmed with stress, I’d remember “My soul magnifies the Lord,” and that would help me keep the right perspective.

I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped at celebrating Christmas in 2013.  I thank God that in Christ there is no condemnation and pray that next year, He will help me do a better “job” of “not doing” for Christmas.  I am hopeful the struggle our family is having with this cycle will be birth pangs of something better.  I pray for all of us to experience Christ more deeply and to find and practice simplicity and joy.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13