Isn’t Christmas such a dichotomy? It’s a time of joy and giving and getting and celebration, but also a time that I am reminded of the brokenness of this world. As a child I was split between parents, and even as a married adult this brokenness continued as Jason (who is also split between parents) and I traveled from Christmas to Christmas to Christmas to Christmas. Even though we were having a great time and spending time with people that we love and who love us back very much, it was also stressful and just…hard. We spent a lot of time away from our home and on the road for our first Christmases as a married couple.
Since having children, I have discovered an entirely new side of Christmas. We have toned things down a lot. We still see everyone, but our parents have their get-togethers on different days so we can be at home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We’re still busy, but not so busy that we can’t enjoy ourselves. We have time for a nap, to sit down and put together Legos, to play with new dolls. Jason and I even get to spend time with our new “toys.”
There has been so much joy found in Christmas since C and M were born. We have new traditions like cutting down our tree at the Doby Christmas Tree Farm every year, and watching “The Polar Express” with hot chocolate and cookies. We start listening to Christmas music in November and wear tacky Christmas shirts every day. The kids wake up every morning to find our elf, Martin (On a side note, I’ll be honest and say that I’m not too sorry that he’s gone back to the North Pole for the year!). Their innocence and excitement is contagious.
This Christmas also brought with it a new aspect for me: grief. It was our first Christmas since losing Kitten (my stepdad) and I missed him and his huge presence. I also really mourned my grandma, who passed away 3 years ago on the day after Christmas.
Recognizing this dichotomy makes me really want to soak in every good moment that Christmas offers. One thing that was so special about this Christmas was that, since it fell on a Sunday, we got to go to church. It was a privilege and a pleasure to join my church family on Christmas morning and worship with them!
Focusing on the real reason for Christmas makes the good and bad aspects of the season easier to bear, because both can be a little overwhelming.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (ESV)
As I go through this life, the good and bad become more evident, but Christmas reminds me that Jesus left his Heavenly home and came here to fulfill all of the prophecies that spoke of him so we could dwell in the light, not the darkness. We’ll have brokenness and grief and the stress of getting our families dressed for church on Christmas morning, but there is also peace and joy and love and celebration. These things go hand-in-hand (for now).
“Comfort my people! Comfort them!” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and announce to it that its time of hard labor is over and its wrongs have been paid for. It has received from the Lord double for all its sins.” Go up a high mountain, Zion. Tell the good news! Call out with a loud voice, Jerusalem. Tell the good news! Raise your voice without fear. Tell the cities of Judah: “Here is your God!” Isaiah 40: 1-2, 9 (GW)
What a blessing to have that comfort and to celebrate Christmas with Jesus at the center, to feel the grief that is simply part of life, but to accept the peace that the Holy Spirit brings only because Jesus walked this Earth. Christmas is all of the feelings concentrated into a couple of days, with wonderful promises of what is to come.
Beautiful post Laresa!! It was special this year with Christmas falling on a Sunday, I know it has before, but this year it was just perfect it seemed!
Thanks Jennie! I wish we had church even when Christmas doesn’t fall on a Sunday! It’s not easy to get everyone there, but totally worth it.
I enjoyed reading this post.❤
Thank you, Chris!