Consider Christmas
The day after Thanksgiving officially kicks off the Christmas season in my home, along with all the amazing celebrations.
The Christmas season holds such wonder and awe for so many reasons.
With a new baby in our midst, the season takes on a new glow, a renewed reality. Our little Arlow brings a fresh insight into the baby boy born so many years ago… a baby like no other.
Emmanuel.
God with Us.
Wonderful Counselor.
Mighty God.
Everlasting Father.
Prince of Peace.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.
Yes, Lord… just as You came that first Noel, we invite You in now, into this season to flood our hearts and our lives with Your presence. You have ransomed our hearts, you have set us free. May we reflect that freedom in this holiday season. May we shine a little brighter and reflect the beauty of the season, the beauty of Your indescribable love.
Consider Christmas, my friends. Although this season can be full of sadness as you mourn the loss of your husband, consider Christmas and the overwhelming hope that came to us through that beautiful baby.
I know how very difficult the idea of celebrating Christmas is when you are mourning the loss of your husband. The idea of celebrating anything is overwhelming right now. The idea of spending this holiday season without your beloved husband is incomprehensible. You may even be convinced that you don’t want to recognize Christmas at all this year.
However, I ask you to consider what this season really means.
Consider the holiness of the birth of your Savior.
Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
I imagine in that moment all of Heaven stood still… all of Heaven stood in awe, in absolute amazement at the holiness, at the glory of God Himself descending as a baby.
I ask you to share in the awe of the pure holiness of that first Christmas. That in His glorious splendor, He would humble Himself to come as a baby, not born in a palace, but in a lowly stable.
Why? For you… to bring you home.
That is worth celebrating.
Without Him, your loss, the loss of your husband, would be without hope. Your grief would be no different than the grief of the rest of the world. You would have no hope of seeing your husband again. You would have no hope of knowing that your husband is in the arms of Jesus. Without Jesus, you would have no hope. Could you consider celebrating Jesus even in the midst of your pain and your grief and your sorrow?
Could you celebrate Jesus… who He is and everything He has done for you?
Could you celebrate the gift of your salvation and your eternal home with Jesus?
Could you celebrate the Giver of all good gifts? The gift of your husband… the gift of every minute you shared with him. The gift of the life you have left… the purpose God has for you. You may not see it now, but God has a purpose and a plan for the rest of your life. That is a gift, my sweet friend.
I ask you to consider celebrating the real reason for the season. In your sadness and your grief, cry out to the One we celebrate. Cry out to Him and ask Him in His glory, to replace your sadness with His love, with His peace, with His joy.
And… like a child on Christmas morning, I pray you will stand in awe of the One we celebrate.
Merry Christmas and Many Blessings!
— Robyn Alsip Arce, © 2021
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain.