A Post About Pushing

It’s Christmas Eve morning, Sam and I are here in New Jersey to celebrate with our kids. We’re sitting out in the early morning, quiet house that will be later filled with noise, gifts, laughter, kids, and crumpled wrapping paper, just ruminating over our lives. We found our conversation orienting around the day and toward what would need to be done. We found ourselves saying we need to get going, we need do this, or we need to do that, and we really should be . . . then we looked at each other and thought why are we pushing so hard on this day that should be filled with great joy and peace?  

We realized it’s because we have pushed our way through life for sixty years. We have pushed through getting educations, and starting a family and earning a living. We have pushed ourselves through hundreds of challenges of all kinds. We’ve pushed through many hard times; financial difficulties, family problems, sickness, loss of loved ones, and dreams delayed. We’ve learned how to push. We have taught ourselves to push. For decades we have gotten up early, worked hard, worked late – push, push push. 

Then we thought, why are we sitting here in the quiet early morning with our coffee, mentally pushing ourselves through the day to come? We realized it’s because we have practiced pushing for so long, it’s become part of our nature.

After all these years, and especially on this day that reminds us of the Christ child resting in the manger, perhaps it’s time we learned how to push into peace. Perhaps we need to practice the peace that we preach. 

We know there are a lot of things pushing on you through the holidays, but take time to relax, to be at rest, to push into the peace that was provided for you two thousand years ago when the babe laid at rest in the manger, even while the cross lay ahead. 

There will be more challenges in the days ahead, but take time to learn how to be at peace, even while the storms of life rage around you. 

Sam and I wish the greatest peace upon you this season as we celebrate tidings of great joy, for a Savior has been born. Perhaps he was born partly to help us learn how to push out of our problems and into His peace.

Love, Debbie