When Christmas Looks Different

The Christmas season has always been a special time of year for me. My mind is filled with sweet memories of Christmases past.

In our family, Christmastime begins the day after Thanksgiving. This is usually when we cut our tree and start decorating. Throughout the month we watch Christmas movies, bake holiday treats and listen to non-stop Christmas classics, with a little bit of George Strait’s “Merry Christmas Strait to You” in the mix. Of course, there’s the mad dash of last-minute shopping because we never start early like we plan to, and the holiday gatherings we try to attend. But my favorite moments have always been the early nights with the kids on the floor by a warm fire, with soft music playing while the Christmas tree twinkles.

Then it all begins to change

The kids grow up, people move away or pass on, and there’s a shift that rocks your world a bit. Family traditions take place differently or not at all and the kids are now calling instead of shaking presents under the tree. Maybe you live too far from home to be with family.. So, you sit quietly now, shopping online while “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” drifts softly from the radio in the next room.

Be of good cheer

If we aren’t careful, it can be easy to feel low this time of year. Accepting changes can be difficult. However, we must accept the ebb and flow of life and find contentment and joy in even the simplest of Christmas celebrations. While we all cherish our holiday traditions with family, the true celebration lies in the gift of Jesus, given to us so many years ago. If we keep this gift at the center of our hearts, we can more easily navigate the changes and challenges that come our way.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

-Luke 2:1-20