It is the best of times~
the Christmas season,
yet at the same time it can be
the worst of times.
This time of year
when our minds go back to past
Christmases
celebrated
with family and friends
and
when Santa brought gifts.
Yet
as we look back we see
laughter & good times
and are also reminded of
how things have changed.
And
today we also experience
the best of times
and
the worst of times,
as suffering and loss have no bearings on what time of year it is
as it happens every day
of every year
because
life still goes on~
even through the
Christmas season.
The pressure
to "feel"
Christmas
the pressure
to
falalalala when you don't feel like falalalaing.
But
isn't that what
Christmas is all about~
Hope in the midst of hopelessness
Peace in the midst of anxiety
Joy in the midst of sorry
Love in the midst of rejection.
Christmas is the
great reminder
of a
Great God
who sent
His Great Son
to bring back
Hope
Peace
Joy
Love
into
a
hopleless
anxietyridden
sorrowful
unloveable
heart,
because
Christmas is
the birth of
Hope
Peace
Joy
&
Love
outside of what we feel
and
what we see.
Hope
Peace
Joy
&
Love
experienced in the midst of
sorrow, suffering and
loss of what was.
Christmas~
the celebration of the birth of
The Baby
who grew up
to become a man who would
die
only to rise
for all of us
so that one day
He will wipe every tear
from our faces and our hearts.
He is
Christmas...
not the packages under our trees,
but the gift in our heart.
May you meet
The Baby
as your
Savior
as your
Comforter
as your
Wonderful Counselor
as your
Prince of Peace
no matter what you may be going through
no matter what memories pop up in your mind and your heart
that may bring tears, laughter or joy.
As now is the time
to take a moment
to close your eyes
to think about
The Little Baby
in the manger
Who came down from heaven
because of all of our loss and sorrow
just to make all things new.
It is when
I get my eyes off of
what was and what is
and onto
"The One who is, who always was, and who is still to come~the Almighty One." Revelations 1:8
then
Christmas
becomes about celebrating
the birth of the One
who was
who is
and
who will be.
May you experience
a Christmas in your heart
in the midst of
whatever you or a loved one is experiencing
this very moment.
So
Thank you
God
for
The Baby~
The Gift of Christmas
Who is
Hope
Peace
Joy
Love.
of
Every season
of
Every day
of
Every minute
of
Every year
because
"I bring you good news Hear the call of Christmas The Savior waits for you..
For all of those in need
Come find your hope and peace
Oh, do not be afraid
For He has come to save (Zach Williams, The Call of Christmas, listen below)
The Call of Christmas~