It's Okay

I have not sat down at the computer to write in a while.  I have been busy and life has not allowed me the time, really.  I have something to share, though.  I feel like God placed this on my heart to share with you, and since I'm trying to be more of a "yes" person (when God is involved), here I am, an hour before guests are supposed to start showing up to my house, to give you a little piece of my heart.


I went to the store about an hour ago to buy some last minute food items and a gift box. I went to Walmart of all places.  I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to find a parking spot rather quickly and that the aisles were not as crowded as I imagined they would be.

As I put my items on the counter at the check out lane, the container of salsa fell out of my cart and onto the floor.  Splat.

Thankfully, it was a plastic container and not a glass one, otherwise, this story might have ended a little differently.

I looked at the man behind the register and quickly said, "I'm so sorry".

With a sweet smile on his face, he looked into my eyes and replied, "It's okay. Don't be sorry, just be you. You are not perfect, forgive yourself."

I was surprised at how well this Walmart employee handled my situation.  Here it is, Christmas Eve, one of the busiest and craziest days for places like Walmart, and this man is trying to console me.  He was spirited and kind and wanted to make sure I was okay.

I left feeling thankful.

On my drive home, I started thinking about what that sweet man said to me.

You are not perfect.

I let that set in for a second and then started thinking about Christmas.

It's the most wonderful time of the the year.  That's what we are supposed to think, at least.
Before I go any further, I have to make sure you know how much I love Christmas.  I love the sounds.  I love the smells.  I love the sights and the magic that fills the hearts of all the children.  I love spending time with family and lighting the candles at church.  I love all of that.

I don't really love the hustle and bustle, though.  I don't love the feeling of, how the heck are we going to pay for all of this.  But, most of all, I don't love the perfectionism and expectations that grip my heart so tightly around this time of year.

I don't know about you, but this time of year makes me a little crazy. If I'm being honest, I desire for things to be perfect. The gifts I give to others.  The tree and decorations.  The food I prepare.  What the kids wear. The Christmas cards we send out.  I could go on.

I often lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, and I'm not talking about baby Jesus' birth.  Yes, that is wonderful and beautiful and worth celebrating. God's promise was fulfilled when Jesus became man and put on flesh.  But, if we want to truly celebrate Christmas, we have to look further down the road to the cross, don't we?

Let's not forget why Jesus came.  Let's not forget why he hung on that cross.

In a few days, after all the presents are unwrapped and all the delicious food is consumed and life gets back to normal, there we will be.  Still broken.  Still searching for more.  Still entangled in guilt and shame.  Still sinners in need of a savior.

To me, this is the best news.  That in my crazy, perfectionism driven heart, Jesus wants a spot.  He wants me to see past the baby in the manger and look to the blood shed cross where he saved me. Not to depress me. Not to make me feel sad.  But to remind me that it is okay.

It's okay that I spilled the salsa on the floor at Walmart.  It's okay that my kids are sent to church with messy hair and mismatched clothes.  It's okay that my house isn't always clean.  It's okay.

I hope if you are struggling this Christmas season, for whatever reason, you will hear His whisper, too, saying, "It's okay".