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“Mom, it just doesn’t ‘feel’ like Christmas.”
These were the words my young daughter spoke as she looked at me with a discouraged expression on her face. We were in the midst of the busy holiday season, but in her heart, it
didn’t “feel” like Christmas at all.
She was no longer a little girl excitedly awaiting the morning she could open her presents while whirling through a carefree season of twinkling lights, Christmas trees, baking and shopping. The magic of childhood innocence was gone and the wisdom of adolescence had kicked in.
But worst of all, our lives had been turned upside down when my marriage of twenty six years had abruptly fallen apart just a couple months before the holiday season had begun. So not only did I understand her crushed Christmas spirit, I shared it. As much as my three children and I tried to carry out our normal seasonal activities, Christmas just didn’t feel the same for any of us. Our family didn’t look the same as it always had. There were more tears than laughter. More aching sadness than holiday joy. More new problems to handle, and less enjoyment of the old traditions we had all grown to know and love. Some traditions nothing more than a memory. More fear and less hope.
I hugged my daughter tightly and reminded her, and myself, that even though life was messy and painful in the moment, we needed to try to intentionally redirect our thoughts off of our problems and onto the manger, and remember the hope the birth of Jesus brings. Together we decided to focus on all the blessings we still had, and not just the ones we had lost, and find joy in the little things, even though it was hard. Through our tears, we committed to hang onto
hope, together, and remember that Christmas spirit comes from Christ, not our external circumstances.
In the Chrismas story found in Luke, we read about this promise of hope, “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Most believers know this popular passage well, but in the face of great pain, suffering and adversity, we
often forget the meaning of them, even at Christmas.
Heartache, grief, pain or anger can easily cause us to lose sight of the fact that this is the season where God sent His Son to step into the mess of our lives so we could have hope and joy, no matter what.
Maybe for you, this year has been even harder too because of personal situations in your own life. Maybe you have experienced separation and divorce as well, and not only is your heart broken but you fear not being with family or children during the holidays.
Perhaps you’ve endured the painful loss of a loved one and your holiday season looks much different than in years past. Maybe the kids have all grown up, are with other families or relocated out of town and your Christmas feels lonely and unfamiliar. Perhaps you lost a job this year or had a serious financial setback and the stress of trying to afford Christmas at all feels
overwhelming and heart wrenching.
Whatever the reason, if your Christmas spirit seems like an emotion you can’t conjur up and you’re not only lacking joy but feeling void of hope, in the season and for the future, remember this: although life continually changes, Jesus and His love for us never does. Redirecting our thoughts to focus not only our surroundings or our circumstances, but on the hope, joy and
peace available to us because of His holy birth, can always help restore a broken spirit.
It’s now been nine years since our lives drastically changed and since I had that teary, heartbreaking conversation with my daughter. And what I learned during that first difficult holiday season, and in all the years and Christmas seasons that have followed, is that hope and joy have to come from who Jesus is all the time, not from a month on the calendar.
Our level of Christmas spirit will always depend on where we are looking for it.
Dear Lord, you know the heaviness of my heart this Christmas, and you know all that is burdening my spirit. Please help me refocus on You and the fact that you sent
your Son to this earth as a baby so I could live with hope despite my circumstances. Refresh my Christmas spirit and infuse me with the joy I long to have. In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Tracie Miles is the Author of eight best- selling books, a writing
and author coach through her business, Tracie Miles Author Coaching
Services, the owner of Tracie Miles Literary Agency, and the Director of COMPEL Pro Writers Training at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
She is also a contributing writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today devotions. Tracie has 3 grown children, a daughter and son in law, and two grandbabies-to-be, all of whom in live in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can connect with Tracie on her blog at traciemiles.com as well as on her
If you could use more encouragement to help you stay focused on the joy and hope found in Christ, and discover how to have peace in in the midst of less-than-peaceful circumstances, check out Tracie’s popular books, especially God’s Got You, Living Unbroken, Love Life Again and Unsinkable Faith, and visit her website at https://www.traciemiles.com for more information.
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