Christmas
is my favourite time of the year. I believe it's because I love celebrating
Jesus' birthday better than my own. In addition to that, I love the festivity
that comes along with Christmas - I guess I am what you can call a
"Christmas geek." My husband had thought we were done with buying
Christmas decorations last year, then I told him, "But no! We don't have a
manger scene! And I want to get a winter scene where little skaters can skate
around on a mini-pond!"
Yes, I love
Christmas. I haven't even gotten tired yet from baking my seventh batch of
cookies, to give away to friends and family for their Christmas present. I do
believe I have three batches left to go, but the joy of giving doesn't make it
a stressful event for me . Gifting has grown to be a stronger love language for
me recently . If you don't know what love languages are, see my previous post
about Christmas Song #5 Don't Save it all for Christmas Day.
For some of
you, maybe you're not looking forward to the holidays. Maybe you've had such a
rough year, that you can't see how it could possibly end well. Maybe you're
missing important family or friends, who won't be able to share Christmas with
you. Or maybe you feel like Christmas can't be special this year, when you're
coping through physical pain, or waiting for a doctor's diagnosis, or
struggling to cope with a loved one's illness.
But as
these lyrics say:
"It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid"
It's
Christmas time - a time to focus on the joy of spending time with family and
friends. A time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. A time to look back on
this past year, and wonder what you would like to do differently in 2012. A
time to share the Christmas spirit with others. What does Christmastime mean to
you?
"At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish
shade"
There is
shade in all of us. The shade could be caused by your illness, constantly
tormenting you, constantly reminding you of everything you cannot do because of
your symptoms and your condition. The shade can be cause by other trouble in
your life - troubled relationships, a troubled career, troubled secrets, or a
troubled self-concept. Maybe you've lost hope in yourself, and can't even
imagine yourself being a source of hope for other people.
But it's
Christmastime, like the lyrics say, "we let in light and we banish
shade." Banish your shade this Christmas, by letting in the light of the
world. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus is the Light of the World. But
there are other sources of light as well - the light of hope, the light of
love, the light of joy, the light of peace - all of which can be found with
special family and friends at Christmastime.
If you need
help banishing shade this Christmas because you feel like an illness, or the
illness of a loved one - is stopping you, join us at http://www.facebook.com/groups/helping.other.patients.everywhere/
.
If you just
need an occasional cup of hope, like our Facebook page for a quick dose of hope
"And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones"
In the
Bible, Jesus says:
‘I can
guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no
matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.’
Matthew 25: 40 (God's Word Translation)
How can you
spread a smile of joy this Christmas?
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging
chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
This
Christmas, I know that there are other pressing concerns to the hearts of some.
Some are still waiting to get a final diagnosis. Some are dealing with chronic
pain. Some are struggling with other personal issues.
Perhaps you
don't agree with part of this verse because you're not "having fun."
But regardless, there is still a "world outside your window…of dread and
fear. Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears."
In that
"world of tears", people are crying because of starvation, because
they are orphans, because they have no homes, because they are persecuted…there
is so much more to their tears than what most of us are crying about right now.
No matter
what you are facing, no matter how tough life may seem, even if it feels like
the world has turned against you, or that you have an illness where there is no
hope, no cure, no promise of remission - you can consider the people who have
it worse than you, and with the right perspective, still be thankful in your
circumstance.
Consider
that world of tears again, and think about reasons that other people are crying
that aren't the same reasons as your own. Be grateful that you don't have those
reasons. If you have a loving supportive wife, husband, or significant other,
be grateful that you are not crying like the woman whose husband has just left
her. If you have food, be grateful you're not crying like that homeless person
on the street who can't find a soup kitchen. If you live in a democratic
country, be grateful that you're not crying like the people who are daily
oppressed by their government.
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
This
Christmas, how can you let others know that it's Christmastime? How can you
share the joy of the season with someone else?
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again
Maybe you
don't have a chance to give anything to Africa this Christmas, but there are
other ways you can give to help spread a smile. Consider buying a meal for the
next homeless person you see on the street. Drop a couple coins off to the
people who ring Christmas bells for the Salvation Army. Maybe bake some bread
and drop it off at your nearest soup kitchen. There are plenty of ways you can
find to spread a smile of joy to others.
If you're
too tired this Christmas to do any of the above, like this song says, "Say
a prayer, pray for the other ones." Prayer is something you can do at any
time, despite how you are feeling or where you are. Prayer is also something
you can never run out of - and there is no such thing as praying too much for
the "world of tears."
This Christmas, I pray that your Christmas be joyful, and if you have tears, may they be tears of joy.
This Christmas, I pray that your Christmas be joyful, and if you have tears, may they be tears of joy.
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