Yesterday, I shopped the stores with my list, searching for the "perfect" gift to convey how special each of my children and my husband were to me. The gift that would say "I love you, and know you, and appreciate you." This year one gift needed to say all that. I found lots of stuff, so much stuff, so much plastic, at times I felt physically ill. I know I could find the items on my list online, but I did not know if they would arrive in time for Christmas so I shopped, up and down the aisles, into the car and on to another store, and another. Feeling more and more discouraged with every trip up and down the aisles...those department store lights are awful. The vague feeling of sensory overload, and the absence of Christmas music or even worse, some driving new version of an old classic set to music that was jarring and unnerving. No smiles, and Merry Christmas, no clerks in Santa hats, just plastic carts, and lots of stuff.
I found a few things on my family's wish list and a few things that I felt would be 'ok' but my heart wasn't full of anticipation. My heart felt something was missing, something more than the three elusive items still on my list.
As I pondered my feelings this morning...looking for a way to express them that didn't sound too much like a Bah Humbug to Christmas, I remembered something that happened earlier in the week. We pulled out the Fisher Price Nativity Scene, and discovered that Baby Jesus was missing. Some how we also found Aladdin had sneaked in with the wise men. Oh, that silly manger scene, reflected everything in my heart....Jesus was missing and Aladdin had taken his place.
Aladdin believed if he just had riches he would be happy. In the end Aladdin got everything he wanted, but he was still a "street rat". He had to change on the inside and it was love (the love of Jasmine) that made him willing to change. (It has been years since I watched this movie, this is my memory),
All my searching left me empty...my bank account, my gas tank, my senses, but most importantly my heart. Just like Aladdin I had to realize the stuff wasn't really what would fill my heart. I needed the perfect gift. I needed Jesus back at the center of our Christmas! I don't know how Aladdin sneaked into our Christmas. I don't know where baby Jesus went, but just as I told the children, "we will find baby Jesus" and we will. We will slow down and remember the greatest gift ever given. The gift that saved the world, the gift of love that came down to become a sacrificial lamb. Aladdin is going back to the Princess Castle where he belongs!!
I need the Prince of Peace, and memories with my husband and children. We don't need riches untold and more stuff.
My prayer for my family and friends is that you too can find the baby Jesus and put him back in his place in your life.
Merry Christmas!
