Christmas Eve

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure...and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.

{Matthew 2:10-11}

Merry Christmas, from the Crosby Show. 

Last year, I wrote about hope. I wrote about how Crosby reminds me to have hope. I clung to the thought of that because the hope of him helped ease the pain of the empty seat at the holiday festivities, the person that was missing. Crosby gave me something to be thankful for, but a grateful heart still doesn't fill that empty seat.

All my life, I can remember feeling a little sad around the Christmas season, even as I child. Of course I can remember the feelings of magic that came with anticipation of Santa, memories of family traditions, the excitement of Christmas Eve. But I also can remember worrying and wondering about the children that Santa didn't visit. I remember worrying if the elderly man at church, who always sat alone in his pew at the upper right corner of the sanctuary, who always came and knelt to pray, was alone on Christmas. I worried about my Granny feeling lonely, after my Granddaddy died, wondering what she was doing when we left after Christmas dinner.

Even now, as an adult, with all my blessings and the life I live, I feel a little sad around Christmas. I hurt for the children and families spending the holidays at Arkansas Children's Hospital, unable to be at home.  I hurt for people that don't have any family and how "the most wonderful time of the year" must make them feel more alone. I hurt for women that have lost babies or women who long to be a mother, and how this season may make their empty arms ache that much more. I think about the people who have lost their job, gotten a cancer diagnosis, and the soldiers serving our country overseas. I hurt for the orphans hoping that this is their last Christmas without a mom and dad of their own.

But I guess feeling a little sad at Christmas is okay. We live in a sad and fallen world. Earth is not heaven. Heartache, death, disease, separation, hunger, loneliness and sorrow don't take a break simply because "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." Because, isn't the reason that we celebrate Christmas to begin with is the hope that Christmas brings? Baby Jesus wasn't born to deliver us from the ugliness of the world. Starvation, abuse, death, disease, despair; humans suffered it all before He was born, after He was born and we suffer it even now. Jesus came to us to fulfill a promise that in heaven, there is no more sadness and pain. So I can be a little sad this Christmas, I can hurt for the hurting and I can remember that it is all temporary. It is temporary because all those years ago, a little baby was born into humble circumstances, to change the world.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

{O Holy Night}

So, to all that are hurting, sad, lonely, grieving, scared, I see you. 

To all that are missing someone this Christmas, I feel it too.

But there is hope! He was born and the weary world can rejoice.

Love, Peace, and Hope,

Carmen