Some won't like Christmas this year

I am not sure about you but I love this time of the year. I love the CHRISTmas season. I love everything about it. The Christmas carols, the parties with loved ones, the snacks and holiday dishes, like water chestnuts and little BBQ hotdogs, the Christmas programs, the Christmas eve service, the lights, the decorations, the anticipation leading up to that wonderful, awe filled day when we proclaim and celebrate the birth of a baby that would be the Savior of the world. And it should be a great celebration as that baby has changed the lives of millions of sinners like you and me. It seems that if you allow it God gives you many magical, awe filled memories this time of the year that are etched in our minds for a life time. With that in mind I think we must also realize and be sensitive of the many people who will struggle with this time of the year. Romans 12:15 tells us to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." Listen there is no better time to be sensitive to God’s leading for us to rejoice with some and for us to weep with some. For many they will need some one to weep with. For many this will be a first Christmas without a dad, mom, sister, brother, child, friend, grandma, grandpa etc. Because of that it will be a hard time. It will be an emotional time. It will be a time in which they might struggle with anger and become bitter. It might be a time in which they shut down and become reserved. It might be a time in which they really don’t want to celebrate. It might be a time in which they become cranky and act out. Lesleigh and I remember our first Christmas after our daughter died. We did not want any part of it. We did not put up any decorations, we did not put up a Christmas tree(until my mom showed up one day and put one up for us) and if we could have had it our way we would have stayed in bed and watched movies all day together on Christmas Day. We have an awesome opportunity this time of the year to show people who are struggling with celebrating Christmas true and real Christian love and concern. Let’s make sure we don’t accuse them of being an atheist. Let make sure we don’t give off the impression that their faith is weak or they are committing a great sin. Let’s make sure we give them the freedom they need to do what they need to do to get through it. This week I had a good cry with someone, sometimes its all we need. Later that day they texted me with, its all comming into place. Lets be people that encourage, build up, and seek opportunities to minister to people this time of the year. And in doing so we will ensure that we are celebrating the true spirit of the Christmas season.