Since I work every weekend, Mondays could be considered my “catch-up” day. Grocery lists, laundry, cleaning, and whatever else was missed during the last two days.
And on this first Monday of December, helping the boys make the gifts for their aunts and grandparents.
An Attempt at Peace
This year was super simple: snow globes.
Or not!
Turns out regular glitter is too heavy. Adding more glycerin doesn’t help to slow it down either.
Around 3:30pm, Mommy came up with a genius solution: waterless snow globes!
Voila! Peace in the Kramarczyk household, right?
And then the mind starts churning. What if the battery dies on the camera and someone is upset with me because we can’t do the group photo. Or what if I have the tripod and the camera ready, but a spouse leaves early? And what if…!
You get the picture.
Everything might be perfectly great and planned for… and there is still no peace.
Problem Solved… Where’s the Peace?
On this particular Monday, December 5, 2022, I feel that I’ve gotten more accomplished than I had anticipated (Thank you, waterless snow globes!)
After a spaghetti dinner tossed onto the table (plain noodles for the 7-year-old and meatballs not touching the sauce for the 10-year-old) I end up rushing at 5pm to dash into the privacy of the kids’ bedroom for my weekly Bible study over the phone. I’m flipping through the Bible to today’s passage (Isaiah is before or after Psalms?) as the line rings. Paul, my spiritual mentor for the past 22 years answers and greets me over the phone. Of course, at that moment I jot down a note in the margin of the question sheet to remind myself to put instant oatmeal on the grocery list and–oh yeah!–I need to text one of the mom’s back from school!
I’m still slightly out of breath as Paul asks if I’m ready to study the Bible.
Yup. Sure.
I think he’s genuinely making sure I have my Bible with me, if I know what passage we’re on, stuff like that…
And usually at this time, I take a deep breath. Adjust the pillow in the corner of the kid’s bed and get comfortable.
But this Monday, the first in the Advent season, he follows up by saying point-blank, “We prepare for Christmas in a different way than the world does.”
What is Peace?
I hadn’t even sat on the bed yet and already my heart was pounding. My immediate reaction is in self-defense.
What? Should I go to church every night and sing Christmas carols? Should I be okay with not showing up with any gifts to share with relatives? Should I not go to my mother-in-law’s at all and instead stay home to study Scripture on December 25? Wouldn’t all that make for more stress and less peace?
Meanwhile, on the phone, Paul is mentioning words like joy and hope.
And all I could think was all I still had to do. And a heavy conviction follows. By all appearances, I prepare for Christmas just like the world does.
As much as I want to argue, though, another part of my heart agrees. A Christian’s preparation for Christmas should be different.
During the phone call that day, we only studied one verse. Isaiah 9:6 reads, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
We never even read the following verse. There was no need.
That last name of Jesus gripped me so hard. Prince of peace. That’s what I wanted more than pleasing my mother-in-law, more than impressing relatives. I wanted peace.
I already decided to forgo the water and glycerin in the kids’ Christmas presents… But I was as anxious as could be.
Waterless snow globes does not a peaceful heart make.
But if not, then what? How?
I already sort of figured that peace is more than the absence of conflict. That it’s not just a boost in confidence or a fleeting feeling of security.
From that evening, I started to come up with other instances in the Bible in an effort to define peace.
Peace came at a great cost.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
Peace is the presence of a victor!
“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)
Peace is a guard over our hearts and minds.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Peace is Jesus’ life given to us.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:27)
Prepare Christmas with Peace
During this Advent season, we don’t have to look far to find trouble, anxiety, worry, and fear. And peace doesn’t come just because you forgo water from the kids’ handmade snow globes.
We can prepare for Christmas in a different way. For we know the child who was born, the son that was given to us, the One the host of angels declared 700 years later as the glory of God and peace to mankind.
The one who is victorious over sin and death at a high cost, who promises to guard our hearts and minds, and resides in us, our Prince of Peace.
May God bless each of you to have a merry and most of all a peace-filled Christmas celebration.
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