Less Than Ideal...

If you are a long-time reader of Social Incites™, you may have noticed that I no longer send out articles every Monday. In fact, I have only sent a couple in the last year. When it comes to writing, I have had a year that has been “less than ideal.”

“Ideal,” as defined by Dictionary.com, is:
noun
1. a conception of something in its perfection.
2. a standard of perfection or excellence.
3. a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a model for imitation.
 
Do you have “ideals” that you strive to achieve? A conception of what it would be like to have a perfect appearance, job, health, home, marriage, child, friend, financial circumstances?

Are there areas of your life that are “less than ideal?” Have you had difficulty getting through your “to do list?” Maybe you even struggle to get out of bed some mornings? Have you wished you got more done, had more time, could be more intentional with how you spend your time? Do you mourn the loss of relationships or security?

There are so many whose year has been “less than ideal.” All around me, I see people struggling with illness, grief, job loss, abuse, difficulty paying bills, depression, loneliness, strained relationships, homelessness, etc. And typically, we are all too aware that the people around us are also “less than ideal,” as their lack of perfection leads to miscommunication, hurt feelings, and broken relationships.

Often, as much as we anticipate “ideal” holidays, the lack of perfection is especially real and raw this time of year. Busyness, dysfunctional relationships, lack of sleep, weight gain, loneliness, and difficulty paying bills all come together to cloud the lights, music, and festivities. While some people eagerly anticipate the holidays, others dread them.

Is there hope for our “less than ideal,” whatever that might be?

This time of year, I am reminded of the first Christmas, most of which was “less than ideal:”
-       A young, unmarried woman with an unexpected pregnancy
-       A long journey on donkey-back while nine months pregnant
-       A town full of “No room in the inn” signs
-       A birth in a stable, surrounded by loud, dirty animals
-       A rag-tag team of smelly shepherds and their sheep, gathered around a newborn baby
-       A king determined to kill all males under age 2
-       An emergency overnight race to Egypt, on foot, to escape the baby-killing soldiers

Wait…isn’t Christmas supposed to be beautiful, fun, comforting, enjoyable, and rewarding? If it isn’t for you, take heart. The “reason for the season,” Christ himself, knows all about “less than ideal.” His willingness to step into that centuries ago is cause enough for comfort, as it assures us that he also steps into our “less than ideal,” as our “Immanuel,” or “God with us…” in good times and bad, in success or failure, in whatever you are facing, He is there.
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That’s reason enough to celebrate this Christmas season!