My 2020 Christmas

Lockdowns + restrictions +3 days off = no home, no family, and no Christmas. At least so I thought…

Around the end of November I started hearing Christmas music in the stores, seeing all the decor, and performing Nutcracker: all the signs of Christmas- but it just didn’t feel the same and I didn’t like it. One day, as I sat and talked with friends about the upcoming holiday, I began to feel so sad. I realized that I didn’t want to listen to Christmas music, I didn’t want to put up decor, I just didn’t want to celebrate Christmas this year. If I can’t celebrate it with my family, and I can’t do all our fun, special traditions, I just didn’t want to do Christmas-not this year. But in that same moment, I felt God’s gentle, sweet voice cut through my thoughts, “and why do you celebrate Christmas…?” Is Christmas really about family and friends? Is it about decor and gifts? Or are they all just a means of celebration?

It was then my thought turned back to the reason for our celebration. The birth of Jesus. God, becoming human! He stepped into our crazy world, into our suffering, into our lives to bring life, forgiveness, peace, healing and redemption. I don’t know about you, but I think this world needs a whole lot of that right now.

As I contemplated on this, my whole being seemed to be filled with this intense joy! All of a sudden, I couldn’t wait to celebrate Christmas! It’s been an insane year. But what better way to end it than by celebrating the hope of Christmas. See, Christmas was really the beginning of the story. 30 years later Jesus would be crucified, he would willing die for our sakes, to offer forgiveness for all our sins-all our hurtful and selfish decisions, to bring peace between God and man, to bring healing to hurting hearts, redemption to broken lives.

In Jesus I realized that whether there is a pandemic or not I can have peace, whether I’m in lockdown or not, I can have joy, whether I’m sick or healthy, my relationship with God is healed, and whether I’m home for Christmas or not I am loved and can love. And all of that is a huge reason to celebrate!

No matter what the circumstances are, because of Christmas there is always a reason to rejoice.

Now I see why my family always went all out with Christmas. Because God went all out for us. He held nothing back. So, this Christmas, I encourage you, love each other relentlessly, give generously, rejoice hard, haha. Because God loves you relentlessly, gave everything, and rejoices in you.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me (Jesus) because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” – Isaiah 61:1-3