When I was a girl my grandmother made the most amazing fudge during the holidays. I could never get enough of it and I often ate more than my fair share. When I got older and had children of my own, I attempted to recreate her fudge. It didn’t go so well and, being the perfectionist that I was, I felt like a failure. I had failed. I never attempted Grandma’s fudge again.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

It is easy to get caught up in the outward trappings of Christmas — the tinsel, the toys, the ornaments and trees, the things that are beautiful and pleasing to the eye. The desire to create a delicious Christmas feast and an awe-inspiring table setting can become the center of our focus.

I believe that many of us do this out of a desire to create wonderful Christmas memories for ourselves and our loved one, but for some there is another motive to our actions. It is our hope that we will be seen as perfectly polished and put-together. We want to be seen as capable, creative, and accomplished.

We don’t want to be seen as a human with limited skill — as a person unable to provide the flaw-free Christmas we dream of.

But we are human. We will disappoint ourselves and others. Life is not perfect and it won’t be until Jesus returns.

This drive to be seen as perfect can manifest itself beyond the holidays. It can easily show up in our everyday lives and in our walk with God. In a world where everyone posts their best moments to Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, it can be easy to look at others and think “I’ve got to be perfect too.”

But perfection is not our reality yet.

Christ sees our flaws, knows our shortcomings and understands our limits. He has a front row seat to our sin — our poor attitudes, our prideful desire to be seen better than we are, our tendencies to forget Him on Christmas — and He steps into the mess with us anyway.

On the day Jesus was born there was no tinsel or toys, not perfectly sweet fudge, no mother stressing about the Christmas feast. There was only a small family, the agony of childbirth, and a dirty feeding trough to use a crib.

The first Christmas was messy… but it was simple and sweet and perfect as well.

The first Christmas was the chapter in the redemption story that would eventually lead to the atonement for our sins. That atonement was made on the cross several years later.

Years after my first and only attempt at Grandma’s fudge, I opened a can of condensed milk by mistake. I didn’t want it to go to wasts, so I googled “condensed milk recipes” and came across a 3-ingredient fudge recipe that is made in the microwave.

In the microwave! Can you believe it!?!

The fudge was oh so yummy — not nearly as good as Grandma’s, but my family enjoyed it anyway and they asked to make it again the next day. And guess what? I did because of the simplicity of it.

What’s the point of my fudge story? Life doesn’t need to be our version of perfect to be sweet. Simple things like simple 3-ingredient fudge recipes can be tasty and pleasing.

And here is something else that is simple and sweet and does not require our perfection: the Gospel. It’s the truth that we are sinners who can not save ourselves. We are in need of a saviour who loves us and is willing to pay the penalty of our sin on our behalf. There is only one who can (and did!) do that for us — His name is Jesus.

Lord, please help us to keep our eyes focused on your Son and the reason for His birth. Helps us to always remember that He was born on Christmas day so that He could die for our sins and rise again to make us perfect and holy in your sight. Thank you for loving us. In your name. Amen.

3-Ingredient Fudge

INGREDIENTS

1 can Sweetened Condensed milk (14 ounces)
2 cups (1 12 ounce bag) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Butter a square pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal of set fudge. Set aside.
In a microwave safe 2 quart bowl, heat chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk, on high for 1 minute. Remove from microwave. Let sit for 1 minute, then stir to combine. If needed, heat an additional 30 seconds. Stir until chips are completely melted and chocolate is smooth.
Stir in vanilla extract. Pour fudge into prepared pan. Let fudge cool completely before cutting into 1 inch squares. (you can place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to speed up the process.)
Store in an airtight container. Fudge does not need to be kept refrigerated.

For the complete set of directions and tips visit https://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/3-minute-fudge/.

Photos from Chocolate, Chocolate, and More.