The older I get the more of a seesaw the Holidays become. This year we await the eminent birth of our newest grandchild with such joy and anticipation and have had special holiday times with other grandchildren. At the same time we have gone to two funerals of contemporaries who are dear to us and have learned a beloved aunt is making the unwelcome move to a nursing home.
Cheery Christmas concerts and missing family and friends far away. Too much of the wrong kinds of foods to feel really healthy, A flood of memories (sweet and bitter) catching us off-guard. Thoughtful neighbors. Lunatics in parking lots. Too little time, too many claims on our money, too much in general.
Then someone says, "Keep the real meaning of Christmas in mind." Frankly, some days that is just not that easy,
The verse from Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” makes an important point. But I think if it were translated to say "Do not stay afraid or stay discouraged." it might be more helpful.
When you look around and feel you are the only one feeling overwhelmed, stressed and decidedly "unChristmassy" remember that it is actually something that nearly all of us deal with to varying degrees and based on different triggers. It is so common that God has been offering us comfort and wisdom on this count for thousands of years.
You can rest on this promise: God goes before us (knows what is coming and has plans to help us); will not abandon us even at the darkest times. Because of this we can safely lay our fears and anxieties wholly at God's feet, an offering of trust and faith.
Cheery Christmas concerts and missing family and friends far away. Too much of the wrong kinds of foods to feel really healthy, A flood of memories (sweet and bitter) catching us off-guard. Thoughtful neighbors. Lunatics in parking lots. Too little time, too many claims on our money, too much in general.
Then someone says, "Keep the real meaning of Christmas in mind." Frankly, some days that is just not that easy,
The verse from Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” makes an important point. But I think if it were translated to say "Do not stay afraid or stay discouraged." it might be more helpful.
When you look around and feel you are the only one feeling overwhelmed, stressed and decidedly "unChristmassy" remember that it is actually something that nearly all of us deal with to varying degrees and based on different triggers. It is so common that God has been offering us comfort and wisdom on this count for thousands of years.
You can rest on this promise: God goes before us (knows what is coming and has plans to help us); will not abandon us even at the darkest times. Because of this we can safely lay our fears and anxieties wholly at God's feet, an offering of trust and faith.
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