Christmas has never looked the same year to year for my family. In 2004, we spent Christmas in a Super 8 hotel room. In 2008, we stayed in a beautiful condo in Breckenridge, Co and spent Christmas Eve skiing. In 2006, our tree stand broke because of the overload of homemade ornaments, so we nailed the live Christmas tree to the wall of our apartment. Christmas 2016 was my first time away from my parents for the holidays, but my niece Alexis came to stay with me and we spent the days watching Harry Potter, baking cookies, and never changing out of our jammies. Our traditions do not really go past cookies, pies, and a live Christmas tree. Some years we travel to family, some years family traveled to us, and other years it was just my mom, my sister, and myself. So, when I imagined spending Christmas in a different country this year, I wasn’t thrown for any big loop. It would be another Christmas that looked completely different from the last.
And different it is. Today is Christmas Eve here in Manila, Philippines. I am currently sitting in a coffee shop in a mall and it is 80 degrees outside with sunny blue skies. But the thing that makes this Christmas actually different from every Christmas I have known is not the weather, the lack of family, or even the fact that we don’t have a tree nor presents to put under one… The difference this year is the absolute joy I feel to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior.
Most of you know I grew up in a Christ following home. I have always known the true meaning of Christmas and spent many of my early Christmases playing the role of an angel in the church nativity play. What is different about the posture of my heart this year? For the past 5 months, I have been living life in service to Christ. My mornings are spent with the Father. My afternoons are spent doing his work. My evenings are spent in his community. Being on the World Race gives space for intimacy with God like I’ve never known was possible. Five months into this thing and my heart is different. My heart is radically different. I love deeper, act kinder, and see the world brighter.
What does this sound like? Every cheesy love story I’ve ever read? “The colors of the world were simply brighter because he was in my life…” Well I might prefer something a little more eloquent or lyrical, but that pretty much sums it up. Jesus is the love of my life and I am over the moon to celebrate his birth that led not only to my salvation, but the love I know today.
Now, I might be sounding a little odd. Kinda like a Jesus Freak? Especially to those of you who knew me in the most recent years. It doesn’t really make sense for the girl you knew to now be talking about God is this way. The subtle postings of Bible verse and such are okay, but please do not start ranting about intimacy…am I right?
Well my friends, I am a Jesus Freak. I love my King with all I have and am not embarrassed for you to know it. This Christmas is different. Gifts are not a thing for me, I do not get to bake an apple pie or cookies, my mom will not creep into my room in the morning and say “Santa came last night.” But holy moly this is a sweet Christmas. I am on the other side of the world serving my King, loving my people well, and celebrating that I get to live this life.
To all my people back home, I miss you like crazy. But please do not be sad for me that I am not home. I am right where I need to be and I promise to make a ton of pies when I get home.
With so much love and wishes for the Merriest of Christmas,
Lina
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10
