This week at home with all the kids has felt harder than usual. I don’t think it’s any one specific child, but more so the sheer quantity of them all. The volume. The mess. The asks. The needs. I know I will miss this one day, but when you are in the thick of it it’s hard to have that perspective, and I have not handled myself well on multiple occasions.

I read something encouraging and wanted to share it here: In Matthew 14, Jesus gets the news that his buddy John the Baptist has died. It says in verse 13 “when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.” This makes total sense to me; Jesus wanted to grieve alone.

Then I read on in that same verse and it says “But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns.” Jesus just needed a minute alone, and the crowds wouldn’t give it to Him. Feel familiar?

What happens next blew me away. Jesus takes a measly five loaves and two fish and feeds over 5,000.

Jesus is likely tired. Weary. Sad. He just wanted to be alone. And yet, he has compassion on the people and feeds them.

I don’t know about you, but as a parent who is oh so tired and would love some time alone, I felt very seen in these verses. Jesus knows what that is like. Jesus also had people who wouldn’t leave him alone. Jesus also had a lot of hungry mouths to feed.

If your proverbial tinsel no longer shines and your tree is dry and brittle, I pray the peace of Christ washes over you today. He can take your measly offering and multiply it to meet your own needs and the needs of those around you.
Jesus understands.
Jesus is near.
Jesus comes to save.
Emmanual, God with us.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I am so grateful to share this space with you all.