by Dona Hake
Probably as long as I can remember being a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christmas season arrives, and we see and hear…”Jesus Is the Reason For the Season”. I know there are many that truly understand keeping things in perspective over the holidays but I have to say that there are many who do not. In the thirty three years of being a Pastor’s wife I have seen so many people walk through the celebration of Christmas, and it sometimes has been a pure struggle for them. For many it is a time of pain and loneliness. For others it is nothing but memories of those that are no longer here, and it makes their hearts constantly reach into the past wishing it was the same. I too had both of my parents sick during the holidays and they both died weeks after. I had Grandparents that made our Christmas holidays such a sweet time, and those precious memories live on in my heart, but they have gone on to be with the Lord.
Our memories of our past absolutely can be put into perspective with the help of our Lord. Also of great importance is the problems of today can be put in their proper place as well, again…only with the help of God. There is a old Christmas song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. This song is a 71 year old favorite of many! I am okay with it until it gets to this part…
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away. “
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away. “
Great song, but can we please get real, and admit that there is NO holiday that makes our troubles go miles away from us. God wants to deal with our problems no matter when they happen, and He does not want us to “shelve” things till we slip back out of a celebration.
This devotion that I am sharing with you today was inspired by a quote I saw the other day…
“Jesus isn’t just the
reason for the season.
He’s the reason for
every day of
our life.”
Help us Lord to keep this holiday in perspective, and remind us that You are our reason for living one day at a time! Your Word says, in Acts 17:28 ” It is in Him that we live and move and keep on living.” Help us to recognize that we need to live the same each and everyday unto You, and for Your purposes. As we gather with family and friends over this blessed Holiday, may we show your unconditional love and kindnesses not matter what.