I began the process of decorating my house for Christmas this past Friday. I debated if I really wanted to drag our big tree (fake) up our stairs and out of its box this year. Ever since Andy went to the hospital and was placed on a ventilator on Christmas Day in 2022, the Christmas tree brings up memories of those very difficult days where it was touch and go for Andy.
On the other hand, I love decorating the tree with all the ornaments I have collected with my sons and husband over the years. When my boys were little, they often made ornaments for Andy and I as Christmas presents. They made wooden ornaments with their photograph glued on it, used their handprint to turn paper into a reindeer, styrofoam balls decorated with paint and glitter . . .the list goes on and on. These are the ornaments I hold most dear.
The desire to keep the tradition of decorating my tree with all their precious ornaments won out and I set up our tree on Friday.
The Nativity Set also brings back warm and fond memories of being a child in Michigan, the youngest of six kids, when I would fight with my sister over who got to set up the Nativity scene. I remember sitting near the Nativity scene which was under our tree and listening to Christmas music while picturing the baby Jesus being born and the shepherds getting the good word. These are memories that draw me close to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Holidays have a way of bringing up all sorts of memories. You probably have both good memories and difficult memories. I hope and pray the Lord will bless you with the ability to focus on the hope of eternity with Jesus Christ as Christmas draws closer. When the hard memories threaten to flood your mind and heart, go back to the true story of Jesus Christ and the miracle of His birth.
Put all your focus on the hope and joy that is coming for you because of Jesus' mission as the Son of God - to take on human form, live among us, minister to us, and then to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on a Roman cross. Three days later, Jesus Christ rose up from the grave and appeared to many. Because of this true story, we can believe upon Jesus Christ and be saved from eternal separation from God.
Because of the Christmas story, we have the hope of glory in Glory.
Philippians 3:20-21 - "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to Himself."