Christmas is almost here!! By the time you’re reading this, Christmas will actually be in three days! For many of us, it’s a time to get together with family and friends, do fun Christmas activities, etc. But also, for many of us, it’s a time that reminds us of our season of loneliness, the grief of losing a loved one, the grief of not having a family to share it with, stressing over the celebrations, etc. This Christmas, I wanted to write something a little different for my blog. If you’re struggling this Christmas season, no matter what that struggle is, this is for you.
This year will be my 3rd Christmas without my grandparents. Though three years may seem far away, their loss truly does feel like it happened just yesterday around this time of year. Lately, Christmas hasn’t felt as magical as it once did. No Christmas Eve celebrations at my grandparent's house, no Christmas Day celebrations with my mamaw. Remembering those celebrations and reflecting on how we do things now has been difficult and I can imagine many of you feel the same. As I was prepping and praying over how to write this, I was brought to the story of Mary.
As we know, Gabriel appeared to Mary in Luke 1:26-38. He told her that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit with a Son and was to name Him Jesus. You can imagine her shock and fear because she was to be wed to Joseph. Her pregnancy would probably cause lots of rumors, gossip, and even cause issues within her relationship… Honestly, if you were Joseph, would you believe your girlfriend or fiancé just “got pregnant?” Probably not. So, Mary probably felt so alone during this season. But, she wasn’t! God was with her every step of the way. He paved the path for her and remained by her side when she traveled to the Inn and gave birth in a stable. Even in one of the most troublesome and darkest times, she found the greatest joy and hope of her life by giving birth to the Light of the world!
I’m not going to sit here and sugarcoat this and make you think you’ll never experience these human emotions. What I will do is say that even in these dark, lonely, or stressful times that the holiday season can sometimes bring, there is a light! That light is Jesus! God loved you so much that He sent His only Son to die for you so that you may live in eternity with Him! That in itself is such a blessing that nothing in this world can give you!
The holiday season can be so hard for so many of us. It can make us feel like we’re all alone. But God doesn’t want you to feel this way!! He wants you to find your joy in Him! The things of this world will come and go. Those Christmas celebrations will come and go. Those dinners, parties, and activities will come and go. Do you know what will never leave?? God!! He is our eternal light! He is our joy and our peace!
I think a season of loneliness, stress, or grief can make us forget that God has not left us. Especially when it’s a season when these emotions become more prevalent, like Christmas. Christmas is so much more than presents, gatherings, celebrations, dinners, lunches, breakfasts, Santa, decorations, etc. Christmas is the beginning of the most beautiful love story. Never forget that. You are not alone. You are so loved and so special!
How amazing is it that you have a love for someone so deep? Your grief, loneliness, stress, etc. is evidence of that. This Christmas remember in whatever season you find yourself in to thank God that He gave you a love this strong. It’s truly such a beautiful gift!
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
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