One of us in our family had a meltdown Friday night. It might have included an ugly cry and talk about budgets, Christmas cards, ham, and insensitive comments.
My husband and I both worked really hard to understand each other, but OK, honestly John worked at it a lot harder than I did because, well, not to be sexist, but I’m a girl. And he feels really bad when I cry.
On this night our discussion was kind of like a Christmas movie marathon that seems to go on forever and eventually the stories seem to start blurring together and you get really tired. But John persisted and kept asking questions and listening until he finally said something and I grabbed him and yelled with great joy, “YOU SAID IT RIGHT THAT TIME!”
I felt like he finally got it. He understood. And he felt like he had vanquished the Abominable Snow Monster, guided Santa’s sleigh through the blizzard, and saved Christmas in that moment. He was my hero again.
It made me think of what Joseph must have gone through with Mary. I mean really. Jesus was fully human AND fully God, but Mary was just human! She was hormonal, and still in her teens, and unmarried and poor. And an angel had beamed down to have a chat with and her fiance.
Think of the conversations Mary and Joseph must have had as they navigated this crazy journey of morning sickness, and gossipy friends, and a long “road” trip without McDonald’s bathrooms! There must have been tears and confusion. Trying to understand what each other was feeling. Trying to support each other.
Guy or girl. Married or not. Doesn’t matter. We long to be heard. To be understood. To have someone truly experience our mess with us.
Enter Jesus. Emmanuel. God with us in our mess.
How mind-blowing it is to think that there’s nothing in my life God can’t relate to. Nothing He can’t understand. Even my ugly cries.
Because He’s God. And He left heaven to enter into the mess of our humanity.
Mary. Joseph. You. I believe God enters in, and like a parent with a distraught child, He holds us close and whispers, “I know. I know. I really understand. It’ll be alright.”
Where in your life do you long for a sense of God’s presence and understanding?
“We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG
laura, I loved having this little visit with you right now, getting a glimpse into your heart and recognizing the mess in mine. Thank you. Love you tons, and crave more moments!
SO thankful for you and the company of all those in this little online community looking for Jesus in the mess.