Colorful lights, an eclectic mix of bought and handmade ornaments, stockings hung on the wall, and a Veggie Tales Christmas CD on repeat all month long. These are some of the sights and sounds from the Christmas’s of my childhood. The focus of the season was always directly on Jesus and the story of his birth. For others, however, Christmas may have looked different. Maybe it was stressful times of tons of people coming over, your mom yelling and reminding you all day that everything had to be perfect, putting a fake face on when all the people arrived. Maybe it was just another day. No lights, no decor, no joy. Maybe it was a day spent in fear because a parent drank to much and you didn’t know what would come. Maybe you were the child who couldn’t wait to grow up and get out. And you hoped and promised that one day you would be rewriting Christmas, and doing better for your kids.
Our Hope
The thing about hope is it’s persistent. It stays around even in the darkest of circumstances and times. Our hope, as Christians, is even more extraordinary because it doesn’t come from ANYTHING we do. It’s all because of Jesus. Christmas is such a beautiful season because it should cause us to ponder our hope that we find in Jesus. Marette wrote a beautiful article about pondering last week. (Ponder – Mustard Trees) Living a life in Jesus gives us the freedom to forgive past wrongs/traumas and move into making Christmas a time of focusing on Him and bringing joy, peace, and beautiful memories to our families.
The Magic Makers
As a mom, Christmas is an absolute magical time of year. JVKE and Forrest Frank came out with a new song that’s so good. It’s called Christmas Through Your Eyes and is all about watching Christmas through the eyes of your children. Christmas Through Your Eyes It’s also a month of the year that most of us probably work our hardest in. We’re constantly doing our best to create memories for our children, spending lots of quality time with our families, and all while keeping the focus on the reason for the season. We are the magic makers. This time of year can also be an easy time for old hurts to pop up and try to steal our joy. I would encourage you in those times, go to Ecclesiastes 3 and read it. There is a time for everything. When the past is knocking and threatening, remember verse 11. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” God is doing a work in you mama. Every time you remember the hurt and choose to forgive again, He’s working. Every time you do better for your kids and husband, He’s working. Every time you stay up late to bring yet another joy to your families life, He’s working. He is making everything beautiful in its time.
Rewriting Christmas Through Faith
If your Christmas memories were like mine, filled with light and joy. Or if your Christmas memories look more like places you would rather not revisit. All of us can join in rewriting Christmas in how we celebrate now. We can do that through our faith and hope in God. Celebrating joyfully while we marvel at the beauty and the thrill of hope that the birth of our Savior brought to this world.
Beautiful thoughts about Christmas, thank you for sharing, especially about focusing on Jesus’ birth and bringing joy to our children.
Thank you. Sarah. Beautifully said.
This is such a good reminder that Christmas is the ultimate love story.