Here we are, with 2020 bearing down on us. The end of another decade. What will we do with it?
I've loved Christmas since I was a little girl singing and "saying my piece" for the Christmas program. I love the wreaths and the lights and all the happy frenzy.
Touching hearts and connecting. Remembering. Missing loved ones no longer with us.
One minute it's laughter and hugs, the next it's tears. In this season all our emotions are right there at the surface.
Very soon we'll pack away the tenderness and the trappings of Christmas and get back to the business of life.
Boxing up the tree and tangibles may make us sad, but that's all surface stuff. What we'll miss even more is setting aside our tender feelings and our willingness to be softer, more giving of ourselves and our time.
Why bother with Christmas lights and decorations?
We never know how our Christmas gestures and traditions may touch someone's heart.
Every year I think of another time, another place, when someone's Christmas star was just what I needed.
At the time we knew we'd be moving on, but for a few years we had no clue where my husband's job would take us. To me it felt like waiting for the other shoe to drop.
(Did I mention I'm not so good at waiting?)
Each December 1st someone on a far distant hill would put up a lighted Christmas star so large I could see it clearly as I turned off the freeway and headed the mile or so toward home.
Almost every time the sight of it would bring me to tears. Tears of gladness that despite all the commercial hoopla someone, somewhere, still cared about the Christ Child and the star that brought the shepherds running to Bethlehem.
Tears of doubt and self-pity, too, I confess. I wanted to know what came next and I also knew I couldn't, so at last I'd ask God to give me patience and peace as we waited.
Somehow, by the time I reached home seeing that star would calm my heart. Most of all, it reminded me that Jesus Christ was born to bring us peace.
Even me.
Even in the midst of not knowing.
Truth is, none of us ever knows what comes next
Our lives can be turned upside down in an instant. Most of us have lived it at some time.
All it takes is a letter. A phone call. An unexpected--or expected--diagnosis or a test result we didn't want to hear.
You've heard that saying, "Life is fragile. Handle with care."
The better maxim for us Christians would be, "Life is fragile, but we're safe in God's loving hands."
Our times are in his hands, remember? (Psalm 31:15.)
We can count on the One who knows the future
Let's not pack away our joy along with the "Christmas stuff."
Yes, we live in turbulent times and life may seem discouraging and dismal at times. Still, by this time most of us have figured out that we find what we look for.
Let's look for what's good instead of being on alert for what's wrong.
Let's remember who we are--and more importantly, who God is.
A verse to post on our mental bulletin boards and live by every day
There's a reason why this Bible verse has been treasured for centuries:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV
How about taking those words seriously as we start each new day?
I can't think of a better way to keep the joy and peace of Christmas in our hearts 24/7, can you?
Trusting along with you,
Lenore
