The season of Christmas is said to be the most wonderful time of the year. Gathering with family and friends, special church services, exchanging gifts, celebrating old traditions and making new ones. I am one of those people who decorate early and aim to get my shopping and wrapping done by early December. I love then spending the rest of the season focusing on things like Hallmark movies, baking cookies and really enjoying the anticipation that the season of advent brings.
It’s easy to get swept up in the fun and magic of the season and assume that everyone feels this way about this time of year.
But for many, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year.
For many, it is a lonely time of the year. It is a reminder of financial hardships they are experiencing. A reminder that they don’t have people to gather with to make new traditions. Or they mourn the loss of the people no longer with us whom they used to celebrate old traditions with.
While some bask in the excitement of Christmas and wrapping up the calendar year, others can only focus on what a tough year it has been and find it hard to get through this season in general.
We hear a lot this time of year about things like donating money and food to those without or with very limited resources. I have certain causes that I donate to each year that are near and dear to my heart. Lately, there is something else that has been calling on me that is near and dear to my heart as well.
What about those within my own community that are without? What about those co-workers who I know don’t have any family and I get the sense might be lonely. A lot of times my focus is larger.
While there is nothing wrong with that, I keep getting this overwhelming feeling that I am being called to narrow that down.
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Think about how much impact positive words can have on us as humans. How good it feels to know someone asks how we are because they genuinely care about us; not just because it’s a standard greeting. While we cannot create a community for each person we interact with or become everyone’s best friend who finds themselves lonely in life; we can be a bright light.
We can be a positive impact in our communities whether that be great or small and whether that means with monetary help or by volunteering our time and talents. It could even mean the simplest of gestures just to make someone feel noticed and loved.
As we prepare in excitement this advent season for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we should be reflecting on what that night looked like. It wasn’t exactly an ideal set up for someone to give birth. It was likely scary and unsettling. I would guess there was much anticipation that night. Likely loneliness and fear. It causes me to reflect on the darkness many are feeling this time of year.
But then I also reflect on the star that led to a miracle the night of Jesus’ birth.
How can we as Christians be that light when others are in a dark time? To not assume everyone is going home to a Hallmark movie. How can we show love and light to those who we have even a short interaction with? This is my challenge to myself this season and I invite you to reflect if it is a challenge for you as well.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:7-14)
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