It is my joy and honor to be on rotation this Christmas Day. Whether you read this before dawn thanks to children up early, or after the traditional ham or turkey dinner, my prayer is your heart is full as you celebrate the birth of our Savior.

We’ve been on a cleaning binge to ready for visiting family, and recently I found myself inspecting and scrubbing the pull-out portion of our oven. For us, it’s where we store our cookie sheets and griddles. I pulled out a griddle that I knew to be a few years old and definitely well-loved and asked my husband what he thought should happen to it. I knew we had more than one, and definitely others were in better shape than the one I was holding.

“Oh, we have to keep it. Your mom got that for me for Christmas one year. It has value to me.”

I glanced at it once more. The front was blackened and scratched up. The look far from the sparkly unblemished griddle he pulled out of the box one Christmas morning. It sure appeared to be a lost cause, and in my practical mind, the many quilts mom has made over the years carried a lot more sentiment.

Still, my husband doesn’t ask to keep a lot of kitchenware, so while cleaning, I decided to see if the old griddle could be restored to her former glory. Thanks to Google, I learned if I took baking soda and a copper sponge, everything should come right off the griddle.

The results were miraculous.

Gazing at the brand-new looking griddle reminded me of the journey to a relationship with Jesus. For me, I was angry and on a fast track to addiction. I was insecure and selfish. Honestly, I was wounded, broken, and mad at the world. Like Song of Solomon 1:5, “I am dark but lovely.” My situation to the naked eye appeared hopeless.

But that’s where Jesus is a Master.

I can’t think of a better invitation to extend to you this Christmas than one that introduces you to a relationship with the One who first came as a babe in the manger and will return King of Kings. Because His life was spotless and He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, we too can transform from the junky, used griddle to the clean, shiny one.

—Julie Arduini

Because we’re like sheep, it’s natural to wander around in search of what completes us. I can attest that no drink, no job, no food, no person, no house, no car, not even the best marriage can complete us.

Only Jesus can.

He is the way, the truth, and the life.

If you have not acknowledged Him as such, while admitting your sins, and hey, we all have them, today is the perfect day. We celebrate His birth because we know the journey takes Him to the cross, our rescue and only way to eternal life.

Would you like to start that relationship today?

While the angels celebrate in heaven, I’ll rejoice while partaking in Christmas brunch with our transformed griddle. Seriously, if you’ve asked Jesus into your life today, please leave a comment or contact me at juliearduini@juliearduini.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Merry CHRISTmas!