Standing In The Corner

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:11

​Things can get pretty crazy this time of year.  It's such a joyous time when you've got a minute to stop and think about it; but finding a minute to stop and think can be a bit of a challenge. When I was a kid if I was sassy my mom made you stand in a corner. I think that's a lost form of discipline today but I'm not sure it was such a bad idea.  The premise behind it made sense...you're upset, saying things you don't mean to, so go face the wall and take a breath where there are no distractions and stand still to calm down. There are definitely days I sort of wish someone would send me to go stand in the corner! I could use a few minutes to be still without distractions and calm down. The truth is, we don't really need a corner to do that, but we do need to make a real effort to be still.  Satan loves to use busyness and noise to dilute our focus. 

Everybody loves babies, they're so cute and sweet and innocent and this time of year the image of the Baby Jesus fills our eyes and warms our hearts. It's hard to compete with a baby for attention so Satan has to pull out his big guns this time of year.  Don't let him get you!  Be still for a minute and imagine the manger that Mary and Joseph tenderly laid Jesus in.  See the fresh straw, imagine the stable and the animals and the chilly night air; throw yourself right into the story.  Be still and just soak in the events of that night. It's a bit like a spiritual standing in the corner.

We have a choice; we can get lost in the chaos or pause at the manger and spend a few minutes a day getting ready for a love so overwhelming it's hard to imagine. So, in the Advent days leading up to Christmas, be still and know that the manger is more than a Christmas decoration.  

A Seed To Plant:  Take a few minutes each day between now and Christmas and gaze at a picture or image of the Christ Child and ponder the greatness of that night...your day will be changed!

Blessings on your day!