When Holidays are Hard
This season is the most tradition-filled time of the calendar year. Everywhere you look you see advertisements filled with happy families gathered around a Christmas tree or table. You see big smiles, sparkles, and lights. You see happiness in those pictures and your heart longs for what those pretend people have.
Not everything is merry and bright this time of year.
Not every family is laughing around a table or Christmas tree.
And there are certainly times when happiness is illusive.
We know that no family, tradition, or holiday season is perfect, but it doesn’t stop us from working hard to make it as close to perfect as possible. By January we’ll be burned out and our credit cards will have been maxed out. We will have tried and maybe we got close. Maybe we will have tried and watched everything fall apart.
No matter how your holiday season turns out you can have hope, and here are 3 reasons why.
- There is a gift for you
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of gift giving there is something waiting just for you. You sing about it, maybe without even realizing it, in all the traditional Christmas carols. A baby was born to live a perfect life in your stead, dying for your sin so that you wouldn’t have to; all so that you could be reconciled to a God who is as merciful as he is just.
- There is joy for you
Light overcomes darkness, and joy can be found in the midst of sorrow because of Jesus, the baby born to take away your sin. Joy is different from happiness because it doesn’t depend on circumstances. When Jesus is your hope, joy is overflowing.
- There is a home and family for you
When you belong to Jesus, you belong to his family. You are no longer alone. His family becomes your family. His name becomes your name. Because you are his, you belong to him. You belong.
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If you would like to know more about the hope of which I speak, please contact me at lindsey@edenwaybirthcenter. I would love to talk with you about it.
