Every parent utters this question so frequently that it can be spoken in our sleep: “Have you cleaned your room yet?” Sadly, the state of affairs in said room is often proof that the child’s answer is going to be no. Piles of clothes or toys may be scattered across the carpet, while half-made beds scream for attention. A heavy sigh and rolling eyes can only serve to release a portion of the stress as the parent, through gritted teeth, may say for the third time in one day, “I’ve asked you to clean your room. Clean the room by dinner. I won’t ask you again.”
This question and the messy bedroom condition under investigation spike the parental blood pressure because they represent chaos, disorder and lack of structure. A chaotic, messy bedroom screams that life is similarly chaotic, unorganized and devoid of purpose for both child and family. But …
This month, we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Everything about Jesus’ birth was chaotic and messy. He was born in a barn; a dirty, smelly barn filled with dirty, smelly animals. And He was born homeless, because there was no vacancy at the local Hilton, Marriott or Sheraton. Finally, as soon as He was born, Herod the Great put a death sentence on His head.
The birth of Jesus was, quite frankly, anything but nice, neat, prim and proper. It was gross, dirty and violent in every way, shape and form, because Jesus was born as a hunted child. But oh, how God used this chaotic, messy “bedroom” (aka, the local Bethlehem B & B) to initiate the most perfect, beautiful, structured and organized plan to save us from our own sin and destruction. Out of this baby’s chaotic birth came a perfectly crafted redemptive plan. In short, the chaos in the barn was nothing but smoke and mirrors for the perfect order planted firmly in God’s heart and mind.
So, what’s the lesson for modern families? What does all this messiness and chaos have to do with modern-day living? Well, the stories of God’s most perfect plans, executed in some of the most imperfect locations, remind us that God is very much at work and capable of bringing the miraculous out of our personal chaotic messes. That is true for parents and children. Sometimes, we need to just sit down in the messy bedrooms and praise God for what He is doing in our lives, even if the piles of toys and dirty clothes remain untouched. Rest in the God who blesses the messes of your life and of your children’s lives. {eoa}
Dr. Lori Brown is a Southern educator, researcher and writer who enjoys devotional writing and teaching and encouraging women to grow in their faith.
This article originally appeared atjust18summers.com.
