Oh December…

December 1st again. It strikes me with vengeance every year. I have so many mixed emotions about it. While I love the good parts of the Christmas season, and especially the Christian truth part of Christmas, December makes me remember another year of my fleeting life has been spent. What did I accomplish in 2022? Have I done enough? Have I done anything of significance? Is God pleased with how I’ve lived? Did I bring honor or dishonor to God’s Name? Similarly January 1st is always a very big introspective time for me to evaluate the past year, set a resolve for better living the next year, and to do a real hard check-up with my God on my spiritual walk with Him.

I guess I want to try to get ahead of it this year. Lord willing, I have 24 more days until Christmas. I have 30 more days in 2022. I hope to make the best of this month. I hope to actually, truly celebrate the Christmas season. I hope to work hard in the strength God provides to decorate my home, do kindnesses and outreaches to people as the Lord leads, and live my best life for the Lord, by His grace, and under the circumstances He has ordained for me. This is how I endeavor to live every month of the year, not just at Christmas season. I pray God will help me see all the beauty and positives of Christmas and December, instead of the negatives. The short days and darkness, the cold, the increased work and tasks Christmas cause, they can be difficult for me. Detesting the commercialism, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and who knows what else the world system will dream up aggravates me. I hate feeling pressured regarding gift giving. I hate feeling like no matter how hard I try to make a good family time happen, that it won’t be good enough. I hate how too many Christmas events gets scheduled all together wreaking havoc on my exhaustion fatigue problems. I hate my own perfectionism that makes accepting real life difficult for me. So this year oh dreaded December, by God’s grace, I resolve to not let you get me down. I intend to do whatever good I can and accept the things I cannot do. I resolve to actually worship my Savior Jesus this Christmas and always. Please pray for me in this. I also want to pause and really, really notice all the beautiful parts of Christmas. The music and the lights are some of my favorites. Getting to see my family, friends, and church members as I so often do is also something I must not take for granted, especially at Christmas time. What do you love most about Christmas?

How are you doing this December? Do you love Christmas or do you also sometimes struggle with it as I do? Be in touch with me if desired; I care. I send all my best wishes and prayers for a reasonably good Christmas for you and your families. And for those of us who struggle, for extra grace and strength in time of need. I hope God will help me and all my loved ones and readers of this blog to practice gratitude to God and to realize how great are our blessings.

Luke 2:10-14

“And the angel said to them [shepherds near Bethlehem], ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’ ”

Glory to God indeed. A Savior – born for me and YOU.