Christmas joy

Can you believe Christmas is only a week away? I sure can’t. It is mind-blowing how quickly Christmas is approaching. I find myself asking the same annoying questions: “Am I ready? Did I get the right presents? What if the presents aren’t good enough? Will people like their carefully chosen gifts? Should I bake cookies? When do I see every family member to celebrate with them?” Sigh…..

Are you feeling the same way? It seems like I am so busy doing and making sure everything is perfect, that I have forgotten to sit at the beautiful feet of our Savior and rest in Him. I have forgotten what the season is truly about. A Savior left His heavenly home and humbly came in a manger for me. He didn’t come in all extravagance in a 5 star hotel. He came humbly, in a lowly manger, so that I may live and experience joy, peace, and healing.

Luke 2:10 says:

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy which will be to all people.”

Notice the Bible says “great joy.” I have to admit that I’m not feeling great joy right now. I have been so busy making sure everything is perfect. I have taken my eyes off of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas and placed them on circumstantial, fleeting details. It shouldn’t matter how many gifts someone receives or if the ornaments are perfectly placed on the tree. All that should matter is keeping my eyes on Jesus so I can experience His gift of great joy.

I remember being a teenager and singing in our high school ensemble group. There were only 8 of us and every Christmas we would sing at the nursing homes. Well, on this particular, snowy night, I decided to dress in my little elf attire. (no judgement….lol) All of the elderly ladies and gentlemen got a kick out of seeing this teenage elf girl singing with the high school singing group. There were two elderly ladies, in particular, who had dementia and just loved having a little elf singing Christmas Carols to them. They clung to me and wouldn’t let me go. It was quite hysterical to us young girls. But I just stood there, allowing them to hold me, and loved on them. I was learning at a young age that the best gift you could give someone is the gift of unselfish love.

You see, these beautiful elderly ladies were not looking for a physical gift that evening, they were looking for someone to see them. They were looking for someone to love and accept them right where they were. And guess what? I saw them and gave them the best of my self. Their room was full of joy on that December evening. The eight of us carolers left the nursing home with an important lesson and filled with an overabundant amount of joy. God used us to bless two beautiful dementia patients.

Are you feeling joyful this Christmas season? Have you discovered a Lord so great and wonderful that you can not help but to share this joy with others?

Romans 15:13 says:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

My prayer today is for you to be able to refocus your eyes back on Jesus this Christmas season so you can begin to experience His overabundant joy. You can find joy in today.