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Nov 30, 2025 06:00am

One Need

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I went to a craft fair in early September. The streets were lined with vendors—candles, T-shirts, funnel cakes—oh my!

My friend and I walked for miles looking at the same crafts, getting a familiar sales pitch booth after booth.

I continued the process, rinse and repeat, having wanted nothing—until I came upon this gem. The Nativity, made by Hannah, age six.

As I picked it up, I examined each intricacy: the pearl-headed sheep, the crowns of the wise men, and the little babe in the hay.

So simple yet so profound.

I immediately envisioned the set atop a wooden cake stand on my kitchen table. The perfect centerpiece.

I love Christmas. I’m all about the glitter, lights, and glam. I usually subscribe to the view of a good friend and decorator extraordinaire of mine who says, “When it comes to décor, more is more.”

Usually.

This year, I find myself staring at and being captivated by this simple set.

There is something peaceable about the simplicity—something that makes my heart rest.

According to Andy Williams, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” However, for myself—and I’d venture to say for many of you reading these words—there may be other descriptors you’d put in place of “wonderful”…

Stressful. Expensive. Exhausting.

Just to name a few.

If you’re anything like me, you struggle this time of year to truly focus on King Jesus—the lowborn King.

The one who came to be Emmanuel: God with us.

As a church girl, I’ve read and heard many sermons on Luke chapter two. Christmas Sunday at my church this year was no different—except it was.

I entered the service full of stress, emotions, and upset. None of “my plans” were going to happen this holiday season.

Mentally, I know it’s not about me, but emotionally—man, does my flesh not like it when I don’t get my way.

My pastor—and husband—opened his message by reading Philippians 2:5–8: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

He went on to read the Christmas account in Luke 2. As we read about the shepherds, the Holy Spirit convicted me.

They didn’t need the perfect setting.
They didn’t need everything to be nice and neat.

The manger scene, scented with the aroma of animal feces, didn’t matter.

His presence was enough to propel their spirit to joy and their feet to hastily run so they could be there—with Him.

They only needed Him.

My conviction didn’t stop there.

As we circled back around to Philippians, I was reminded of all King Jesus—God in the flesh.

The one who gave up much to come and live among us; not for His benefit but for ours.

Harder truth: If King Jesus was obedient—even to the point of death on a cross—I must die to “my plans,” my emotions, my flesh.

Satan does a good job of convincing me that my plans and my emotions not only are deserved but must be satisfied in order for me to be content.

This is a lie.

“You make known to me the paths of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more.” Psalm 16:11

As I sat in the pew after the sermon concluded, I confessed and repented right then and there.

I asked the Holy Spirit to help me stop talking about—or fighting for—where I wanted to spend Christmas.

Like the shepherds, I too have one need: Him.