Day 16: The One Gift
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 & friends
&
when Santa brought gifts.
As we look back we see laughter & good times,
but are also reminded of
how things have changed.
And
today we also experience
the best of times
&
the worst of times,
as suffering and loss have no bearings on what time of year~
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
HOPE
PEACE
JOY
&
LOVE
into
a
hopeless
anxiety ridden
sorrowful
hearts~
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.
JESUS 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 &your heart
that may bring tears, laughter or joy.
As now is the time to take a moment & close your eyes
to think about
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" (Revelation 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
when we
"Hear THE CALL OF CHRISTMAS*
All you lost and left behind The lowly and those longing With an emptiness inside The forgotten and forsaken I bring you good news Hear THE CALL OF CHRISTMAS The SAVIOR waits for you" (Zach Williams, The Call of Christmas,)
*THE CALL CHRISTMAS (LISTEN BELOW)