I’m one of those gals who look forward to November rolling around so I can head to Facebook and post 30 days’ worth of every little thing I’m grateful for. But this year has been tough. You know those tests you take that rate your stress level depending on how many large-scale life crises you’ve endured the past year? Let’s just say my score was so high I couldn’t add it in my head.
Mounting Difficulties
I became divorced this year after my husband moved in with another woman, only to watch them break up shortly thereafter and him end up in jail. Before I could catch my breath from that whirlwind affair, I became ill, had to go on short term disability, and ended up losing my job. In the midst of all that fun, my stepfather suddenly passed. Some years are just harder than others…
So when November arrived, I just didn’t have it in me to come up with pithy platitudes and cute pictures to gush up my Facebook wall – I decided to leave that pleasure to those who fared better than I in 2018.
Just as I was set to grin and bear my way through the holiday season, wouldn’t you know this would be the year my 15-year-old son, who had endured the choppy waters right along with me, decided he was going to ring in the Christmas season loudly. Christmas songs blared from his speakers the minute his eyes opened, and he ended his days, watching someone’s Christmas wish come true on the Hallmark channel. A teenage boy watching the Hallmark channel, I tell you! If he had his way, the tree would have been up before Thanksgiving!
A New Perspective
On November 11th, I was awakened to sounds of bells jingling, the smell of French toast rolls sizzling, and my son whistling a snappy seasonal song. The wind outside my window was whipping around a whirlwind of yellow, red and orange leaves, and peace like a river, quite unbidden, flowed through my soul. From out of nowhere, this verse came to mind:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Suddenly, the hope, promise, and joy that accompanied the birth of our Savior was all that mattered. That my son figured this out before I did brought home to me Jesus’s words,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 NIV
I know some don’t want to even think about Christmas until after we celebrated our national day of giving thanks, but this year I learned why some people start celebrating as soon as there’s a nip in the air – our world desperately needs the hope only the birth of Christ can bring.
