Amy C Walters

Many years ago, my husband was a youth pastor at a small church and that church was going through a very messy, turbulent time. Relationships were splintering. Distrust was growing. Differing stories were floating around and it was challenging to discern what was true.

As Christmas season started, my frustration boiled over and I prayed, “God, I want to celebrate Christmas. I want to be joyful and cheerful and just really enjoy this time. But this messy situation is getting in the way. I can’t focus on Christmas in this mess.” 

But through the messages and music of Christmas, God reminded me that the very first Christmas was not neat and tidy. It was messy, with political intrigue and disruption and inconvenience and broken relationships.

Christmas is not a story of perfection but of our perfect Savior intentionally entering our imperfect lives. I can celebrate Christmas in the midst of mess because Jesus is with me in it.

Out of that realization, this poem was born:

Jesus Entered the Mess

‘Twas the night before Christmas , everything was a mess;

Towns in upheaval, families in distress.  

A tyrant ruler paranoid for his power, 

Kept the citizens guessing from hour to hour.

Everyone was sent home for a government census

To tax people for roads and civil defenses.

For a man and a woman surrounded by scandal,

The journey was almost too hard to handle.

She was great with child from outside of marriage

A situation all who knew them disparaged.

For they did not know that she bore the King,

The one for whom choirs of angels would sing.

So when they arrived late at night in that town, 

No one made room for them to lie down.

Although labor pains were soon to begin,

For this disgraced family, there was no room in the inn.

They found a place that at least had four walls,

Never mind it was next to unsterile cow stalls.

But in that filthy place came God’s only Son,

The Messiah who came to save everyone.

But why come right there, to that time and that place

To suffer disease, unrest and disgrace?

Why arrive within sight of Herod’s dark palace 

To suffer his jealousy, rage and malice?

Why come during a time of political unrest

When life was unstable and tense at best?

And why come to parents whose reputations were shamed 

And willingly take their dishonorable name?

All we know is the Messiah knew what was best

And intentionally came to enter their mess.

This Christmas when you experience the messiness of life, I hope you’ll remember that Jesus is with you in it. And I hope you’ll look forward to when he returns to finally make all things perfect and new.

Merry Messy Christmas!