“Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear” – From the song: Happy Xmas (War Is Over).
Every day is a day closer to Christmas, but my heart is heavy with this pessimistic Grinch-like Bahumbug mentality. It’s the year COVID stole Christmas and I’m bummed. I’m bummed that my plans to fly to visit family are up in the air. I’m bummed I can’t hug my grandma or have big Christmas parties with my cousins. It’s funny cause everything about Christmas seems covered in a fog of COVID and I’ve got to wonder if the Grinch is grinning ear to ear in his lair.
But, the more I let myself wallow in COVID gloom I miss the peace Jesus has for me. In the toughest of times, in the saddest of moments, in the stress and the worry, Jesus offers something wonderful, something glorious. He offers us this overwhelming unexplainable peace.
Just like all the Whos down in Whoville, the big and the small, I long to look past the bummers buzzing around Christmas and find that peace, that joy, that goodness of Jesus in it all.
I’m not going to sing the lyrics, “let’s hope it’s a good one.” I’m going to proclaim, “it will be a good one.” With the peace and love of Jesus, my days are filled with endless good. Jesus is bigger than COVID. He’s mighty enough to bring beauty from the hardships. He’s in control and longs to meet us in our Bahumbug spirits and sprinkle a little bit of Christmas cheer into our human hearts.
Take time today to truly lean into the gift of peace from Jesus. Present to Him your frustrations and fears this Christmas season. Share all your going through with Him through journaling, praying, painting. Ask for His peace to be ever-present in your current situation and watch as His peace seeps into every crack, every open wound, every worry and you’re filled with the joy of Christmas.