Hey guys, now that the Christmas seasons over I just noticed, when I originally posted this blog, only half of it uploaded! So it probably didn’t make a lot of sense! I added the second half so feel free to go back and read it. Sorry about that!
I asked my family if we could put up the tree early this year, I’ve been listening to Christmas music since November 1st, and I watched all the Christmas movies on Disney+ before we even celebrated thanksgiving. I’ve really been milking the Christmas spirit lately, trying to enjoy as much of my favorite holiday as I can, and I know it doesn’t take much to understand why. This time next year, I’ll be an ocean away from my family. I won’t be celebrating Christmas with them.
Christmas has always been one of the few times of the year when life seems to slow down a bit, the whole family can be together, and have an excuse to just be happy and not worry for a little while. Honestly, what’s not to love about lights, gingerbread houses, and cheesy movies? I know, every year we’re warned: don’t get caught up in the commercial side of Christmas, remember what we’re really celebrating. It’s not about the gifts under the tree, but the gift of Christ, right? At least for me, it’s easy to make myself believe that that IS what I’m focusing on. But the crazy thing is, it’s so much easier to be joyful in December than the other 11 months, even though the gift of Christ is something we get to enjoy all year long.
My family started this Christmas season off with a devotion that asked this question: What’s going on in your life, heart, or mind that’s making you take refuge in the happiness of the holidays? It’s been on my mind ever since. I haven’t really gotten around to answering it, and to be honest, I’ve been kind of avoiding. I guess that proves something; there is a part of me that wants to escape into the merriness of the Christmas. I think it’s because it’s so much easier. It’s a happiness that can actually be bought in a store, or by time with family or friends, or a delicious cookie. It’s much easier to look for happiness in a movie with a predictable ending than by confronting the things that are in our way of truly appreciating the real gift of Christmas. But this gift really has nothing to do with the rest of the Christmas we get lost in.
All I know is next year, my Christmas will look nothing like the ones I’ve had for the past 17 years. I won’t be able to build gingerbread houses with my siblings and I won’t be there when they fight over whether they’re watching Elf or It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. I won’t have any of things I’m used to turning to for comfort during the holidays, not even being with my family. I’ll most likely be left with a bare Christmas, one that might not look too different from the other days of my trip. But I will have this: The knowledge that my God loved me so much He sent his son to die for me so that I could have a relationship with Him, and now I get to follow his plan and purpose for me by sharing that love with more of His children. And that will be enough.
So maybe this is a question you could ask yourself too. What are you running from this Christmas? Or maybe, Who are you running too? My hope is that by answering this, the joy of Christmas might last longer than the 25th, as we celebrate and find refuge in the gift that God has given us all year round. That is my prayer.
Thank you so much for following along on this journey so far! Be sure to hit that subscribe button under my profile to be the first to know when I post a new blog. Also, while I’ve got you here, there also happens to be a donate button up there ??. You could help fund my mission by contributing to my $15,800 goal. And if you’re looking for an end of the year donation, good news: If you donate through this blog, it’s tax-deductible!
Thanks again for everyone’s support!! Merry Christmas!!
