I've always thought it odd that we count the days to Christmas rather than to Christmas Eve, since for many folks church services and family activities often start the day before Christmas. Our Church is even having its first Christmas celebration at 10:00 a.m. on Dec 24th. Like most churches in this age, there will be no service on Christmas Day.
For folks celebrating Hanukkah this is one of those years where the days of celebration culminate on the 24th of December.
So for practical purposes everything needs to be ready today for the Holiday celebrations. As much as adults may anticipate Christmas traditions and activities, most are pretty ready for the Christmas to New Year's period of eating left-overs and pots of soup, not having to chase the clock with school bus schedules and at least for some, days off work.
Maybe this is the best day of the year for me to remember the 25th verse of the 31st chapter of Jeremiah: "I will give rest and strength to those who are weak and tired.” Because for all the joy of family and celebration and the often more generous actions of folks this time of year, it is also traffic snarls and budget angst and tense family moments and an unexpected tear at a touching memory.
Yup. I'm definitely ready for God to give me rest and strength. And even more important is this: I am deeply grateful for my God who cares about my weakness and exhaustion on all the days of my life.
For folks celebrating Hanukkah this is one of those years where the days of celebration culminate on the 24th of December.
So for practical purposes everything needs to be ready today for the Holiday celebrations. As much as adults may anticipate Christmas traditions and activities, most are pretty ready for the Christmas to New Year's period of eating left-overs and pots of soup, not having to chase the clock with school bus schedules and at least for some, days off work.
Maybe this is the best day of the year for me to remember the 25th verse of the 31st chapter of Jeremiah: "I will give rest and strength to those who are weak and tired.” Because for all the joy of family and celebration and the often more generous actions of folks this time of year, it is also traffic snarls and budget angst and tense family moments and an unexpected tear at a touching memory.
Yup. I'm definitely ready for God to give me rest and strength. And even more important is this: I am deeply grateful for my God who cares about my weakness and exhaustion on all the days of my life.
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