The Joy of the Season

Christmas is less than two weeks away which seems crazy to me! I remember as a kid thinking that time went so slow, but now it seems to go by faster and faster. Some years I’ve been more ready for Christmas than others. It can be such a fun time of year filled with hope and wonder, but it can also be a time of year that brings sadness along with the joy. I think that the key to keeping the joy in the season is to remember why we celebrate it in the first place.

This year, Christmas doesn’t feel like it use to. The grass is still showing, the weather has been all over the place, and it’s going to be the first Christmas without my dad here. It’s not surprising to me that the feeling isn’t the same — I didn’t expect it to be. I will say that if it weren’t for Jesus, Christmas wouldn’t mean much and I probably would feel even less like celebrating. I’m also pregnant again for the second Christmas season in a row which makes me think about Mary in such a different way than I use to before I experienced pregnancy. I can only imagine what it would’ve been like to be at the end of her pregnancy and traveling on a donkey — I doubt it was very comfortable. Then, once she finally does reach her destination, she is told that there isn’t room for her which leads her to delivering Jesus in such a humble place — a stable. There isn’t much detail about how Mary and Joseph felt about that experience. They were blessed to be the ones that brought Jesus into the world, but that by no means meant that they would have a glamorous, easy time of it.

As I turn my attention away from myself and the pain that comes with yet another “first” without my dad, I’m able to experience the joy that this season is meant to bring. When I focus more on Jesus and less on myself it allows me to look forward to Christmas even though it feels different this year. Feelings are ever changing and grief is the strangest roller coaster that I’ve been on in a while. I’m sure that Mary and Joseph had many feelings on that night, but it didn’t stop them from doing the very thing that God called them to do. They made the best out of a hard situation and that is exactly what I hope to do.

There are so many sayings this time of year like “Keep Christ in Christmas” or “Jesus is the reason for the season” and I wonder how many of us forget to actually do that? In the midst of the gifts, decorations, baking, traditions, busyness, and all the other things that happen this time of year, do we actually make a point to remember why we celebrate in the first place? I mean, I know the reason, but I wonder if it changes how I celebrate. Christmas was such a big holiday for my dad and I have many memories of Christmas that involve him, but how many do I have that involve Jesus? When someone asks me about Christmas traditions, I find that I struggle to come up with ones that revolve around Jesus. I never really thought about until this year and it makes me want to do better. While there is absolutely room to grieve about the fact that my dad isn’t here anymore, there is also room for the true joy of Christmas. Jesus being born is such an important thing because it was the beginning of His path to the crucifixion and resurrection which is where death was conquered and forgiveness was made available to everyone.

So, this year my goal is to focus on the truth of Jesus and the gift His life was and is. To actually take those catchy sayings to heart and make sure that I remember the reason for the season. I also want to make sure that I teach my children well and find some traditions to have with them that help keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Whether this season is hard for you or not, I hope that you find joy in the Truth — His name is Jesus and He truly is the reason for the season!

Song of the Week: This week I chose “Mary did you Know” by Pentatonix because it’s my favorite Christmas song.