I have been sensing a lot lately, but have been under the weather so following the thoughts, and the leading I have been sensing has been quite challenging of late. I have had to sit and rest and not do much of anything through this season, when I have known there was a LOT to do, to be ready for the family coming over. Then to make it more challenging, hubby has had to get through this mess, too. =(
Today, I was watching a movie and the plot shows a young aunt trying her best to raise her niece and nephew. They are struggling to heal from the loss of the parents/sister & brother-in-law, and the grandfather sends funds and a friend to bring them to his home. He wants to meet them, mostly out of curiosity. The grandfather is so heart broken that he doesn't want to celebrate, no trees, no real fun, just be there and abide by the rules. The aunt takes the children to the village and they get a tree, convince the help to pull out the ornaments, and they start decorating, all while the kids are still bickering, and struggling with the hurting hearts. But the grandfather has a change of heart, and plans his Christmas Eve ball.
But while I was watching it, I had this thought, asking myself if I inspire those that are hurting and broken to live and have hope again? Do I inspire others to celebrate Christmas?
In the movie, you could see the aunt was doing her best to keep the kids' hopes up, and to keep the family together, but she was struggling terribly. So, she stepped out, mostly from need, to accept the grandfather's invitation. But when she got there, she was not going to accept not celebrating. She knew that the kids needed it to help keep some normalcy, but also to bring the cheer and joy of the season into their life.
When I think of celebrating Christmas, what do I think of?
Family, Fellowship, Light, Joy, Giving, and Hope. These are some of the main things that come to mind.
I realize that family has its own dynamics, and sometimes it is not as easy to be together. "Family" isn't always those blood relatives. Sometimes it is the brothers from another mother, and sisters from another mister, that help us and do life with us. I am grateful for my family and I am grateful for the close and dear friends that I have in my life, too. Jesus had his family. Mark 6: 3a says, "...He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us." While he had the family, he also had his disciples (family, in a way). These were students, but I can imagine that while there was the teacher/student relationship, that there could also be a brother-like relationship, too. Mark 3: 35 says, "Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Fellowship- it means, "companionship, company, community of interest, activity, feeling or experience, a company of equals or friends." (Merriam Webster Dictionary online)
This makes me think of Psalm 133: 1, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Unity- so many people hear this word and get it confused with uniformity. Unity (according to Merriam Webster online) means, "the quality or state of not being multiple, oneness; identity element, a condition of harmony: accord". Do I work well with those in my life towards the vision, towards the goal?
A lot of the fellowship during this season is done at parties, and dinners, so it is done with food. Acts 2: 42, "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (NASB1995) It is not good for us to be solitary for long periods of time. It is one thing to draw aside to seek the Lord, and to be home to keep from spreading germs/cooties. But we are made to interact with others, and to influence/impact them, too.
Light- I have always liked to have a lot of lights on my tree, in the windows, and this year I was able to add some to new places as I decorated. I love to sit in the room with only the Christmas lights on, and to enjoy the glow. Matthew 5: 14-16, "You are the light of the world- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let you good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father." (NLT)
The multicolored lights are fun, but my personal favorites are the warm glow clear lights. It puts off such. wonderful glow. It is a good example of what verse 16 says (in the NKJV), "Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." What good does putting lights on the tree, and on my house, if I don't plug them in and let them shine?? When I drive down a road and see the Christmas decorations, and their lights are on, it brings a smile to my face. It warms my heart.
That is what I want others to feel and to experience when they see me. I want His light to flow through me and from me to soften any hardness, to melt any coldness. Light is one of the things needed to bring healing to hurts, so if His light can shine through me to help heal hurts, and bring some joy and healing to others, I want to share that!
Joy- I think the most common verse about joy during this season is from Luke 2:10, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY which will be to ALL people." I remember in Sunday school singing a song with the basic message of joy being Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in-between. It seems that SO many now think it a bit backwards. While there are the memes and the posts that speak about "Kindness matters" and "Be Kind" and all of those are great reminders, I just need to remember that if I put Jesus first and seek His heart and direction, it will bring joy. Then the end of Nehemiah 8:10 says, "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." In His presence is the fullness of joy, so staying in His presence keeps the joy. When I notice that I am grumpy, or glum, I need to check to see if I am centered on Him. I want to walk in joy and I want it to be contagious to those around me.
Giving- Christmas is a time to celebrate the greatest gift of all. God sent His son to be born in human form. He did this knowing that he would grow up and become the living sacrifice to show His love. Giving is a way to show your love. The joy it brings when you are able to get something that is either just what they need or something they want. I can imagine when I have had one of those moments when something happens that I know was answered prayer, or even just a Divine intervention/gift. He knows it is something that will make me happy, or provide a need that I have, and I know that it was done by my Father. I can only thank Him! I causes joy, love, and adoration to flow from me to Him. It is not about giving to get, Acts 20: 35b, "You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'." I love being able to find things that I know someone will enjoy. Getting it wrapped and then getting to see them open it. The joy that I see on their face, brings a blessing to me, too.
Then Hope. As you experience all the above, it brings hope. Hope in a good future. Hope that the Lord is working. Hope keeps you going. Hope the beginning of faith, right?? Hebrews 11: 1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (NLT) I am reminded of the song O Holy Night. The first verse says, "O holy night, the starts are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior's birth, Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope a weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Hope helps you to see past the weariness to the glorious new morning. The line in bold print is what I thought of right after I thought of the word "Hope". The weary world rejoices with a thrill of hope! Hope lightens the mood. It thrills us. Thrill is a strong feeling of enjoyable excitement, The Hope that I should carry, should bring excitement to others, and lift the weariness off them.
Do I inspire others to celebrate Christmas? Do I carry His presence? Do I carry joy and hope? When others meet me, do they see Jesus in me?
Lord Jesus, as we are celebrating You as the best gift from the Father; I know there are people that are weary, depressed, and struggling. Help me to be sensitive to the whispers, the shoulder taps, and your leading so I can encourage others as You would have me to do. Help me to be a witness and to truly inspire others with Your presence, light, joy, and hope. Help me to be someone that encourages others each day. Thank you, Lord.
I thoroughly enjoyed your blog post, especially the idea that JOY could be an acronym--Jesus first, Yourself last, and Others in-between. Merry Christmas.
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