“Because of the Lord’s faithful love, we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will put my hope in him.'” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

Do you ever wonder what would happen if Jesus suddenly dropped into the midst of a Hallmark Christmas movie? Would people recognize Him? Or, like a Hollywood star without their makeup, would we walk right past him? Unseeing? Unmoved by His very presence. I wonder if He has become like our grandmother’s china. Do we just take him out on special occasions? Or, is He really our Everyday Jesus?

I sit covered with ribbons and shredded wrapping paper going over my to-do list in my head. Stockings. Check. Santa. Check. Sausage Rolls. Check. Presents opened. Check. Car loaded for Grandma’s. Check. Jesus. Ch……

I realize that once again we’ve rushed through the stockings, the wrapped gifts, the offerings from Santa left under the tree. Not one moment has been given to the real gift. We have left him unopened on the end table. Where was Jesus in the frenzy of all this mess? Still in the manger, waiting.

Next year, I will try harder. Next year, I will focus more on the giver and not the gift. Next year, I will take a few moments to remember Jesus in all the mess.

That was my mantra for a long time. Next year, next month, next week. Next, never came. One day I realized that like my grandmother’s Haviland with the beautiful gold border I was treating Jesus like my special occasion only china. Except I barely remembered to put Him out on the Holidays. I left him in the manager. Waiting.

The thing is Jesus wanted to be my everyday china. Those plates we only use when no else is there. The ones that are worn out, scratched and a little dented. Well used. My Jesus looked pretty clean. He looked like I had just taken him out of the box. That’s pretty much what my Bible looked like. Unopened, unused, unloved.

Sitting there in the midst of my mess I had one of those moments of clarity.  The light begins to flicker. The second cup of coffee kicks in. The noise somehow is at a dull roar and you can really see. You can hear. There is Jesus. Right beside me. In the midst of all the boxes and bows. The angels singing in the background. He is holding out his hand. Right now.  Let’s take a journey together. Let’s sit in the mess together. Every day.

Come with me. Let’s take a journey together to find this Jesus. Walk with me along the dusty roads of ancient cities. Let’s peer through the windows of time encountering those early witnesses to the birth of a King. Not the expected King who would overthrow the government. But a King who comes to live with His people. To live in our hearts. An Everyday Jesus who walks with us. One who leans in to listen. One who invites us to gather at His table. Every. Day.