Have a Comparison-Free ChristmasPrøve

The picture looked amazing. Flawless holiday decor framed the background. The table, beautifully set, featured every type of delectable Christmas treat you could imagine. It felt like the photo was taken straight off the December cover of Better Homes and Gardens. The image wasn't from the cover of any magazine, though. No. I saw it on Instagram. I scrutinized every aspect of that photo. That's what Christmas Eve should look like, I thought. But that's not what it looked like for us. My dining table stood full of paper plates littered with leftover chicken nuggets and ketchup dollops. The once-clean holiday tablecloth had smears and crumbs at every place setting. Some half-decorated sugar cookies and sparkly decorations sat on the counter, but nothing was pretty enough for Instagram. The thought battle began, "Your children deserve a better Christmas Eve." Instead of listening during the Christmas Eve service, I plotted what my buffet could look like next year. My family needed that kind of perfect Christmas. I should be that kind of mom—one who is skilled at arranging food to look nice on serving platters. Comparison's song rang louder than any Christmas carol. I felt like a lump of coal. In Luke 10:38-42, we read the story of Mary and Martha, two sisters who desired to serve Jesus. But while Martha was polishing goblets and arranging vegetables, Mary sat and worshipped at the feet of Jesus, her savior. Sometimes I feel guilty when I read this story. I'm more of a Martha than a Mary. I prefer "doing" to rest. This passage reminds us that being present is what's most valuable. During the holidays I forget this. More than a perfect table, my children will remember our time together. Being present is a greater gift than a perfect holiday. Step one to enjoying a Comparison-Free Christmas is to focus on presence over perfection. Comparison tells you: do more, buy more, and work more. But, Jesus tells us the opposite. He asks us to spend time in his presence. In the Psalms, we read that we'll find joy there! He also instructs us to love others well, which means being present when we're with them. As you read today's passages, think of ways you can set aside the distractions of busyness to spend more time in the presence of God and those you love this season.