Christmas and the holidays are interesting times when pain and joy often sit together in your heart and mind. There is no getting rid of the bad that always seems to come with the good. Learning how to celebrate Advent has changed my perspective on the Christmas season and the ebbs and flows of joy and disappointment.
The Seasons Of Life Go So Quickly
The joy of finally putting up the Christmas decorations might be met with bad attitudes or a life-changing diagnosis. I still remember when I was 11 years old, sitting on the couch with the Christmas tree brightly lit in the background, when my parents told me my great-grandma did not have much longer to live. She died two months later.
Or the car ride to view Christmas lights around the neighborhood might be filled with bickering in the backseat, or the dog might decide to offer up the gift of dinner they ate earlier now on the floorboard of your car. Maybe you are like my husband and I, who drive around to look at lights alone while remembering the days of hot cocoa and the endless chatter of our three children, who are now all young adults, singing, talking, and fighting in the back seat. The seasons of life go so quickly.
Advent Is A Time To Slow Down And Reflect
I used to think the perfect Christmas had to come without pain, disappointment, or dysfunction in order to be a good Christmas. My idealistic view of the holiday season was not realistic. I grew up in a home where we did not go to church, so the focus was never on Jesus—at least, it wasn’t in my eyes. When I was little, Christmas was about family, presents, watching Christmas movies, and eating my mom’s amazing cookies.
Outside of playing with the white ceramic figurines in the handmade nativity that was as old as me, that sat on top of a dark wood bookshelf filled with Hardy Boy Books, I never considered the birth of Jesus at Christmastime. I knew His name, and I knew He was the baby in the manager, but I never thought about Jesus or what it meant for Him to have been born.
It wasn’t until I was older and had several disappointments, rejections, and some of the most painful Christmases I have ever experienced that I finally got to where I had to discover the true meaning of Christmas. It was a necessity for me because now I had three kids and I wanted my heart to be back in Christmas. I wanted so desperately to feel something good again around this holiday that seemed to highlight the pain in my life instead of the blessings.
Every Good And Perfect Gift Comes From Above
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. – James 1:17 (WEB)
There was a moment when I felt like there had to be more to Christmas than the gifts and the heartbreaking fragility of family. As much as I love spending time with my family, I learned early on that time with them is as finite as money and the earthly possessions we carry on this earth. But I really didn’t want it to be that way; I knew in my heart that people and family mattered more than the new phone or fancy doll wrapped up underneath the Christmas tree.
For me, Advent became a very important season in my life, not only for my spiritual walk but also for my mental health. It is so easy to get caught up in the gifts we can find in this world. However, my focus during Advent is on the gifts God has given me through His Son, Jesus.
Yes, the pain, fear, loss, and grief exists even during a time that is supposed to be joyous, Christmas. However, we always have a choice to focus on the good gifts that come from above.
25 Gifts From God To Focus On This Advent Season
In my book, Every Good and Perfect Gift: A 25-Day Advent Devotional, I share a short devotional every day focusing on the following 25 gifts from God, one for each day of Advent.
A New Perspective
Start by being grateful for the opportunity to put things into perspective during Christmas.
God Is Different
Acknowledge that we worship a God who is different than all other gods.
God Is Generous
Reflect on the fact that God is generous and willing to give good gifts.
Remember God’s Goodness In Your Life
Reflect on the goodness of God and remember His goodness in your life.
God Is Accepting
God gives us the gift of acceptance in a world where we often experience rejection.
The Free Will To Choose
He gives us a choice to follow Him or not, and our free will defines the relationship we have with Him.
Your Life
God is the giver of life and everything we do with our lives is an act of worship.
Everything Good In Your Life Is From Him
He gives good gifts, and everything good you experience in your life comes from Him.
Peace That Passes All Understanding
There is a peace that passes all understanding that can only come from Him.
God’s Mercy
It is the mercy of God that gave us Jesus and will allow anyone who believes in Him to spend eternity in heaven.
We Can Live In The Moment
God gives us a reason to live in the moment because every moment is authored by Him.
JOY In Christ
JOY in Christ during the holiday season, and any season of life, will be your strength to endure everything the enemy throws your way.
God’s Grace
Grace is getting things you don’t deserve, and God wants to give more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Confidence In Jesus
In a world where there is always a question of what might happen, our relationship with Jesus can give us the confidence we need in order to face our fears.
Beauty For Ashes
Because of Jesus, we can find beauty in the pile of ashes left behind by life.
Our Ability To Give
Our generosity is an overflow of the generosity of God in our life. God gave us everything through His son, yet we are entitled to nothing.
Repentance Is A Gift
The gift of repentance only comes through Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the gift of a fresh start and preparation.
Strength To Endure
Fear will always be in your life. You need to find strength in Jesus to have the courage to face another day.
Forgiveness
Offenses are a part of life. Through Jesus, we have the privilege of being forgiven and forgiving others who have hurt us.
Hope For The Future
There is no doubt this world is full of pain, terror, threats, and so much more. But Jesus is the only one who can give us hope for a life of eternity.
GOOD News
Turn on the news, and you will see all the pain, war, and death that covers this world. But Jesus gave us the gift of GOOD news.
God Is Patient
The Word says that God is patient because He wants no one to perish. Reflect and remember God’s patience in your life. Hold onto the promise of His patience in the lives of your loved ones who do not know Jesus yet.
The Opportunity To Believe In The Good
Everyday we make a choice on what we believe, who we believe, and the truth that defines our lives. Jesus gives us something good to believe in.
Help From The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a unique gift that only Christians have because we believe in Jesus. Reflect on the help you have in this life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts That Last Forever
Material gifts either get sold, given away, or thrown away. But the gifts Jesus gives us last for all eternity. Heaven is the best gift anyone can receive this Christmas season.
Advent is always a beautiful time to remember the gifts God has given us all. I hope you find purpose and meaning this Christmas through Christ, the reason for the season.
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