Christmas feeling

What’s your favorite Christmas song? I can think of a lot of great candidates... One Watermarker told me the other day that her favorite is “Feliz Navidad”; she sings it at the top of her lungs when she hears it on her car radio. In fact, she didn’t get out of her car in the church parking lot recently until it was over! Maybe you like another old, fun tune, “I Wanna Hippopotamus for Christmas” or the timeless classic, “White Christmas”. Maybe you like the favorites “Rudolf” or “Jingle Bells”. And then who could forget the great carols like “Hark the Herald Angels”, “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night.”

Christmas songs can definitely help us capture the Christmas spirit; but what if you just aren’t “feeling it” this year? Maybe you know someone who is struggling this year... and even cheerful Christmas songs don’t seem to be enough. The joy of Christmas can get squeezed out by loss, or hardships, or stress. The season can cause us to miss people in our life who we have lost - people who were a big part of past Christmas memories. Financial or health hardships can cause us to miss the joy. The stresses that come with the season can overwhelm us at Christmas too! Maybe you are experiencing loss or hardships or stress this year.

At Christmas, we celebrate the wonderful truth that Jesus came to offer us hope, love, peace and joy... even when we aren’t “feeling it.” Feelings will come and go in life. Loss, hardships and stress are all part of the very imperfect world we live in, all seeking to rob you of what Christ offers; but Jesus helps us overcome anything this world has to throw at us... even death! 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

This Christmas, my prayer for you is that you will discover the joy, peace, love and hope that Christ offers you! So sing those songs. Ask Him to help you get past the loss, hardships and stress that can cause you to miss all that He came to offer you!

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14