I had all kinds of thoughts about publishing a post this week with pictures of the pretty Christmas things around my home – the tree, the wreath on the door, our little penguin collection, and the advent calendar that our kids love. Maybe I would get a batch of cookies baked and take a picture of them, too.
But first, I would have to adjust the tree ornaments the kids have moved around. Pick up the ones that have dropped on the floor. Smooth out the tree skirt. Clean up the mish-mash of blankets, pillows, and teddy bears surrounding the tree. Push aside the dirty dishes to reveal the advent calendar sitting on the counter behind them. Glue together the decorations that have broken. And so on, and so on.
Which got me to thinking about something more interesting, to me, than those picture-perfect Christmas displays: the messes. Not awful kinds of messes, but the big, beautiful ones that come along with lives being lived. The messes that you see when you enter the home of a family that has young children. Gravel on the entrance floor. Dishes on the counter, and maybe the remnants of lunch. Toys scattered about. Small people dashing from room to room. Half-way completed craft projects shoved into corners. Pieces of laundry to trip over.
I get embarrassed when my house looks like that, if anyone unexpectedly drops by. However, if I walk into another person’s house, and it looks like that, I breathe a sigh of relief. Ah…they, too, are normal. I don’t think about how they should have picked up the mess before I dropped by. I marvel at the messes – at the stories the messes tell. The kinds of foods their children like (or don’t like), and the dishes they eat (or don’t eat) out of. The creativity displayed by their projects on-the-go. The powdering of flour and icing sugar on the floor, and the smell of cookies hanging in the air. What they had been doing outside, before their wet mittens and boots were hurriedly deposited at the door.
My son attends a weekly kids’ club at our church. I feel a little overwhelmed, when I walk into that room to pick him up. 8 year-old boys hardly ever stop moving, so the entire place seems to shift ceaselessly, like an anthill. The air is saturated with the smell of laundry soap and fabric softener, because the kids keep so busy that their bodies heat up and release the fragrances of their clothes. There are, er…other smells too – some not so pleasant.
And in the midst of it all, are the volunteer leaders. Adults in the mix of children, a couple at each table. They smile, and chat with the kids, and make sure they’re not causing too much trouble or getting hurt. They seem relaxed – tired, perhaps – but at home within the big, beautiful mess.
It makes me think of God. Isn’t that kind of how He is, in-amongst the big, beautiful mess of people He has created? Read through the Bible, and you will find things in there that would make most Sunday school teachers cringe. It is messy business, this thing He is doing. But He’s committed! So much so, that He made His home within the mess that we all are.
It’s not always pretty, or clean, or orderly. But it’s real, and amazing. It’s Christmas!
With the warmest of wishes for a big, messy, beautiful Christmas –
Lisa
This made me feel better as my house is a complete mess right now. We thought we would have it sold soon so we kept trying to make sure it was clean. Then the people backed out of signing the contract and I’ve sunk into such a deep depression I don’t even care. Let it be messy and let my kids be kids. Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to you as well. I’m sorry that they backed out. I’ve been in that position a few times myself – it’s very discouraging!
I always think I will have my house all clean for Christmas, but can never quite make it happen. And then I realize that it doesn’t matter so much after all. It’s better not to make myself stressed about it because then I become a not so nice person to my family. That’s not what Christmas is for!
β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
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I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s home isn’t Instagram presentable. It’s nice to know that other people live like me than in a magazine photo. π Wishing you a very merry Christmas!!
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Definitely not the only one! Merry Christmas β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
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These pictures made me so much happier than the photoshoot ones. Where there are kids, there is dirt, mess, chaos… and LIFE. Great post π
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That’s for sure. Thanks!
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Mine is definitely big and messy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Merry Christmasβ€π
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Awesome! Thanks and Merry Christmas to you too!
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Gotta love those beautiful messes. One time my daughter’s friend came over to our house to make chocolate brownies when they were 7 years old. When the mother picked her daughter up she looked down at her and screamed “Audra, you’re filthy” and little Audra had the biggest grin on her face covered with chocolate of course. I did not allow the mom in, just said my good byes at the door watching as the mom stood there trying to decide if her daughter was allowed in her vehicle.
If she would have seen the mess the two girls made I fear she would have fainted. Audra’s mom’s home was so pretty, with perfect glass french doors that overlooked the pool and no finger marks, the kitchen always spotless and the carpet always clean. Never a dirty sock anywhere or a dirty litter box that needed to be cleaned. But Audra always said she loved coming to our house because she loved to paint and play. Keep being the wonderful mom you are, your kids will thank you later when they are all grown up. Great post and photo, have a Merry Christmas.
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Thank you! It sounds like you are a wonderful mom, allowing kids to be kids. I have to admit that I do have a hard time making peace with the messy at times! Sometimes I just need to take a breath and remind myself what’s important! God bless + Merry Christmas.
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I’m all about sharing real life. Good for you. More people need to see it because it’s not always roses. π
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Thanks! Yes, you are right! It’s no use trying to live according to impossible (or silly) standards.
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I thought i was the only one with these thoughts! I just started blogging and was freaking out about how to blog and make things seem like they run seemlessly…..I now know they dont and your post gives me inspiration to just give the raw honest truth.
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That’s awesome! I know I really prefer it when a writer is honest and authentic. Sugar-coated stuff gets boring. Good luck and have fun with your blog! π
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Thanks, Check back with me in a month or two to see how its going lol…..if I make it that long
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I love this post! You are so right about some of the messes of parenthood being beautiful. Just as God sees us β beautiful messes He created. Love this so much!
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Thank you!
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