December is here! I’m sure you can relate to the sense that the year has gone quickly and here we are with Christmas around the corner. As Christmas events and gatherings fill the calendar it is often challenging to step away from the logistics, schedules and planning and make room to ponder the message of Christmas: the gift of Jesus coming to earth. He is the fulfillment of God’s promise, making a way for salvation, bringing hope, love, joy and peace.

Many (yes, many) years ago, when I was a teenager and part of the Unley Park Baptist Church youth group, we had a tradition of piling into a minibus one evening before Christmas and visiting aged care homes and homes of seniors in our congregation to sing Christmas carols. We often sang a Christmas chorus with these lyrics: “Christmas isn’t Christmas til it happens in your heart, somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts”. The well-known Christmas carol ‘Joy to the World’ also encourages us to “let every heart prepare him room”. Mary and Joseph could not find room in the inn as they prepared for the birth of Jesus. Are we making room in the ‘busyness’ of Christmas to prepare our hearts to joyfully celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the world?

As I turn the calendar page to December, I am challenging myself to reflect on the importance of making room to reflect, to ponder, to wonder at the miracle of Christmas – the good news of great joy that is for all people. Let’s make room, let’s prepare our hearts, let’s desire to share this good news.

“Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”. Luke 2:10-11

Blessings,

Sarah

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