Advent Reflection: 18th December - Jo Pountney

Every day in Advent 2016 we will be sharing short reflections from authors, Christian charities and Eden team members.

I had never believed anything could be as exciting as being a child going to bed on Christmas Eve, until I had my little boy. Now everything that is new for him I find that exciting for me, especially the anticipation of seeing his face on Christmas morning. But with that excitement comes a fear that wells up inside - what if it's not good enough? What if I don't get the right presents, what if he doesn't like his dinner, what if I get it wrong, what if I'm not good enough?

I have that fear all the time - what if I'm not a good enough mother, what if the time I spend (and, as a working mother, I often over compensate and cram too much in), the activities, the food - what if it's not good enough?

At Christmas it's easy to feel like you fall short, especially as you look at all those perfect lives on Facebook. After all, no one posts the pile of dirty washing or the baskets of creased clothes. The truth is, though, we all fall short. That's why He came. It's why God knew Jesus was the only way, we just couldn't get there on our own. God doesn't see my shortcomings, my failures or my piles of dirty washing - when He looks at me He's sees the perfection of Jesus, His blood on the cross washed away every stain and left me with something I could never earn.

It doesn't matter how much I plan or prepare this Christmas, I will never deserve the gift of Christ - no one will. But that gift was laid inside a manger 2000 years ago for me, by a Father who loved me so much he sent his Son to die in my place - to bear my sins.

So when God looks at me this Christmas he'll see more than good enough, just like he sees when he looks at you, and that's something everybody should get excited about!

Jo is Head of the Eden Sales and Marketing team, she's been at Eden for the past 11 years, is married to Marcus and has a 2 year old that is super excited for Christmas - probably due to the fact that she started hyping him up in October.