he gets it. no really, he does

When I was younger, the world was considerably smaller. My idea of "the whole world" was my house, Grandma and Grandpa's house, Cub Foods, my school, and China (not because I'd ever been there, but because I knew it existed, we talked about it in school a lot, and it seemed like a pretty big deal. Just like Grandma and Grandpa's house. Kind of). Because my world was so small and limited, the small trifles that would sometimes interrupt my day and cast a shadow over my otherwise happy little life seemed like a much bigger deal. Things like a bruised knee from falling off my bike, or having to go to the dentist, or an argument with a friend on the playground that afternoon. These things would have a larger impact on me and seem worse than they actually were because I didn't have much to compare them to. The world was just simpler.

Whenever I was struggling, scared, sad, or angry, a common response for my parents to have was to tell me to "give it to Jesus." I remember looking up and nodding through my tears to show that I understood and that I would follow through on these instructions. But really, I was extremely confused and even more frustrated than before. Give it to Jesus? What could Jesus do? An invisible man in the sky can't make all this pain go away at the drop of a hat just because I get down on my knees and whisper a prayer asking Him to. 

Now that I'm older and able to comprehend the theology behind Christmas a little better than when I was six, a comforting realization has struck me, and the phrase "give it to Jesus" means more and seems more realistic than before. Those beautiful parents of mine were onto something when they instructed me to send my problems up to Him in prayer.

The thing about Christmas Day is that it impacts us more than I think we realize. On Christmas Day (the 4 BCE one, not the 2015 one), Jesus was born as a human, to humans. He didn't just descend on a cloud, shining with the light of ten thousand suns (that's later in the Bible). His young mother Mary labored for hours and delivered her tiny son in a barn, because there was no room for the cold, scared family in the inn due to the census that was taking place across the land.

But back to this human thing.

It is His human-ness that makes Jesus both relatable and approachable. He knows what we're going through, because He was human once, too. God chose to send His one and only son to take on the human experience. He sent little baby Jesus to grow up alongside us so He could get to know us - to assess the situation so He could save us later on down the road (see: crucifixion, Pontius Pilate, tomb, cloud, light of ten thousand suns). While Jesus was here on earth, He grew up like us. He loved and laughed and argued with his parents and cried like us. He knew what it meant to suffer, but He also knew what it meant to love so much that your heart feels like it could explode. The fact that He was willing to feel all of this - the good and the bad - was the perfect demonstration of His perfect humility. He can empathize with us in our times of weakness and strength because He was there getting through life just like we are today. He got it. He gets it. Now, Him getting it doesn't necessarily mean that your situation will be fixed at the drop of a hat (that's our 21st-century-spawned need for instant gratification piping up and complaining "it's still not good enough!"). It does, however, make you feel a little less alone, doesn't it? That even if you don't necessarily tell anyone what you're feeling, someone still knows and cares and understands. And that loving, warm empathy just makes the darkness feel a little less dark.

The world is a little broken right now. Actually, it's a lot broken. And we are, too. There is so much hatred, confusion, miscommunication, and hopelessness that at times we can all feel lost. Some of us maybe a little more than others this year. Some of you weren't able to go home for the holidays this year because you feared rejection by your family, simply for being who you are. Some of you didn't even have a family to go home to in the first place, or your family is too far away. Some of you have experienced so much loss and pain this year that celebrating the holidays right now doesn't make much sense to you.

No matter what you are feeling today, or any day for that matter, remember that He gets it. He's been there because thousands of years ago, He chose to take on our human experience. And even though He may not be here with us today, in the flesh, He still wants to guide you step by step in this life; if you allow and trust Him. And that's some pretty passionate love.

The next time you feel, bring it to Jesus. Because he's been there. Isn't that cool?

Merry Christmas.

h