This message will, I expect, arrive in your inbox on Christmas Eve or the day before. How are you doing in these not-yet-Christmas days? It can be an overfull season, can’t it? But not always. Sometimes it can feel not really very full at all.
We can say (and truly believe) we want a more simple season. But when the years of “simple” Christmases come, it can be tinged with memories that sharpen our grief over loved ones who have passed recently or years ago, or misgivings for how some years the focus got way off-track. Yet we still may miss the bustle of activity and sweet memory making. The days on our own can feel pretty long in the midst of the shortest daylight days of the year when all these thoughts collide unkindly in our minds.
I am praying for a kindness to yourself this week. Whether you are wrangling toddlers, awaiting a phone call from family afar, or so so tenderly walking through this season amidst abrupt life changes, allow yourself a moment to reflect on what Jesus brought to us, to you, when He was born in that stable so long ago. Light. Light like no other!
May you be comforted, relieved, and encouraged with this truth in our memory verse this week:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1.4
The apostle John went on to write …
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him … But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1.9-10,12
As we stack our memory verses, God’s perfect plan is revealed … from the beginning His plan was always to bring the light of life to each of us who would believe!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1.1
He was in the beginning with God. v.2
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. v.3
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. v.4
Every Christmas light can be a reminder … in Jesus was life and His life was, and is, and for eternity will be, the light for all people! Including you and me.
May you be comforted, relieved, and encouraged with this truth! It’s worth the effort. It’s worth the knowing. It’s worth the believing!
Merry Christmas, dear woman. You are so loved, Colleen