Life seems to have a funny way of coming together. I could have never imagined living overseas for nine months immediately after graduating high school. Never. Now it is my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. BUT, it is Christmas and I miss home. I miss hugging my family and the traditions we have. I miss laughing with my friends. I miss decorating and drinking hot (or frozen) hot chocolate. I miss all the things that come along with the holiday season.
Life in Thailand has been beautiful, chaotic, and so completely fulfilling. God has opened my eyes and shown me deeper depths of His heart. While beautiful things are happening all around me, I feel so caught up in what I am missing out on at home.
Something that has been heavy on my heart during this time is celebrating Christmas for what it is meant to be celebrated for. Right now, I have the choice to dwell in what I am missing at home or I can choose to share the hope, love, and joy that Jesus offers. Christmas gets to look different this year. It looks like being the staff of a church that is full of passion. It looks like singing Christmas carols all around Phuket. It looks like praying over one of the world’s largest Red Light Districts at sunset. It looks like painting children’s faces at a local festival. It looks like sitting next to a woman who shares her deepest struggles with us and invites us to speak truth into them. I am honored that during this season, I have the privilege of celebrating our Savior. I don’t have any distractions or anything taking away from the true meaning of Christmas.
I am finally learning what it means to celebrate Christmas with Jesus at the very center. To say, “Jesus is the reason for the season” and actually mean it and be able to live it out. I am learning what it looks like to stay present. Thank you, Jesus, for this season of life.
