The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It’s that time. The song, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” comes to mind. And it is the most wonderful time. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite times of the year. I just love the decorations of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The fall colors of Thanksgiving, the thankfulness in the air, and the giving are some of the things I love about that holiday. The decorations, sparkle, excitement and anticipation of presents and the first coming of Jesus, and especially the general excitement about Him are things I love about Christmas.
It’s simple really.
Most people would say it’s because of spending time with family. But that’s not the case for me. I see my family all year long. My husband and I have a fantastic relationship with all three of our kids, their spouses, and our grandkids. So this time of year only enhances that for me.
In all reality, I celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas all year long. This time of year is wonderful simply because I can increase talking about my favorite Person ever… Jesus. It’s simple really.
Sometimes your heart aches…
But for some, the holidays are stressful, lonely, sad, and often cause more heartache than happiness. Some people are having their first Christmas without someone they love; mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, spouse, brother, sister, child. I know that feeling very well and my heart aches for them.
In 1995 I lost my paternal grandmother in May, my in-laws divorced (with much angst), and I lost my mother to cancer in July. She was forty-eight. There was a lot of stress in our family. That holiday season emotions were raw, stress was high. I slipped into deep, severe depression and friends that I thought were friends disappeared. It was a lonely time. My husband and I did the best we could with our three small children. I also thought God had left us. I was wrong. He was there the whole time, carrying us.
Reach out this year!
This year, if you know someone who is going through loss, reach out to them. They will put up a good front, say they’re okay, things are well, but look in their eyes. Ask the Lord to give you knowledge about them. Ask Him to give you wisdom to give them a Now Word from Him. He will reveal things to you that you can use to minister to and love on your friends and family members who are hurting this season.
Don’t leave anyone out
There’s someone who doesn’t have family who is wishing someone, anyone would just say hello to them, or Merry Christmas. Just say, “Hey, come have dinner with us.” You don’t have to go out and buy gifts, it’s not about that. It’s about the One Gift, Jesus. It’s about loving, caring, showing compassion for others. It’s about sharing the love of Christ and His gift.
Share the love
Reach out this season. Share the love. Jesus loves you so very much and He doesn’t want anyone to be left out. That’s why He came. And that in itself makes it the most wonderful time of the year!
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
from us and ours!
Shelley
