We got a real Christmas tree this year. I’ve never seen my husband act more like Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation than on this particular adventure. When he saw the “right one,” he acted as if angels sang and a light from heaven shone on it. It was definitely a foot or two taller (and three to four feet wider) than it needed to be.

When we went to pay for it, the man working there said we had chosen a breed of tree that produces a sweet tangerine scent underneath the traditional pine aroma. I got really excited and immediately began to picture my whole messy house transforming into something that smelled of cookies, tangerines, and Christmas magic. I couldn’t wait to get that thing home and set it up!

The tree has been in our house for over a week now, and I have smelled zero tangerines.

The thought briefly occurred to me that just a few strategically placed air fresheners would solve this. But I quickly dismissed the idea because that’s just crazy. Right? Who would hide fake tangerine scent in their real Christmas tree just to create the illusion that they have an extra special tree that infuses the air with whatever Christmas magic must smell like?

Don’t worry. I didn’t buy tangerine air fresheners. But I did consider the idea for longer than I care to admit.

Here’s the thing: I really liked the idea of my house smelling extra special. I felt like somehow that special smell might distract me and my Christmas guests from the housework I might not get completely done or the underwhelming quality of gifts we might give. Maybe it would be distracting enough to keep people from noticing that I gained a little weight since last year. (Yes. I hear myself. But can you imagine a pine/tangerine-smelling Christmas tree?! It sounds like the unicorn of trees!)

But at some point in this crazy train of thought, it hit me.

God couldn’t care less what my house smells like.

He doesn’t mind my dust bunnies or unfolded laundry shoved in a corner.

He wasn’t expecting any presents, regardless of the quality.

The only “extra weight” he notices on me is the worry and frustration I’m carrying around.

The Savior of the world, whose birthday we are celebrating, was born to an unmarried couple in a barn surrounded by farm animals. His first bed was a trough for feeding sheep, horses, and cows. His first weeks of life were spent away from home attending a government-mandated head count.

It was in this moment, under those circumstances that he sent sweaty, hardworking shepherds and glorious angels alike to bow and worship and sing holy songs of praise and celebration.

Imagining the messy clash of reality with hope in that moment makes my eyes well up with tears. This is where God wants my heart to find rest—in the messy, incredible clash of my realities with his hope. This is where God wants me to focus the thoughts, words, deeds, and smells of my Christmas planning and holiday to-dos.

If even one word of this resonates with you, I want you to do a quick Christmas reset with me right now. Pick up a Bible or go online and search for “Luke chapter 2” and read verses 1-20. When you reach verses 19 and 20, I want you to imitate the actions described in these verses.

1. “Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.” Pause and reflect on the incredible fact that God himself took on human form as a helpless baby in a dingy, stinky manger so you could spend eternity with him. Hold that reflection dear, deep within yourself.
2. “The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen.” Put on your favorite Christmas hymn or song and belt it out in praise. Let loose! Sing it out like a tone-deaf kiddo in a school recital who thinks she’s the next Adele, Whitney Houston, or Ariana Grande.

And then I want you to repeat these steps each and every time this week that you catch yourself focused on the desire to “buy air fresheners” instead of simply resting in God’s sweet smell of salvation.

Merry Christmas, dear one. You are so loved.

For a child has been born—for us!

    the gift of a son—for us!

He’ll take over

    the running of the world.

His names will be: Amazing Counselor,

    Strong God,

Eternal Father,

    Prince of Wholeness. (Isaiah 9:6 MSG)