Sparkle, shine, music, and sweetness.
Laughter, magic, and wonder.
Parties, peace, togetherness.
Packages, ribbon, anticipation.
Hope, birth, and warm scarves.
They say this is it, don't they?
This is Christmas. This is the holiday season jam-packed with good things.
... but what about when it isn't.
What about when the sparkle can't be found and the laughter stings? What about the moment when the music ceases to play and the room full of people becomes a foggy blur?
I'm thinking about those of you today that know pain. Pain that comes like fog and just wraps itself around you.
Mourning what was. Wishing for what might have been. Aching for what is or what should be.
The clocks stops for no man. The calendar days march on. And sometimes along the way, hearts are trampled under the resounding drummer boy's beats.
Jesus sees you, sweet hurting ones.
Oh, He sees you.
That baby. The one wrapped in nothing but dust-stained cloth and lying in a manger?
He grew.
He grew, that wee little baby, into a man. God wrapped in human flesh.
He loved. He healed. He carried.
He died.
He hung, back against splintering wood.
and He thought of you.
He thought of your hurt.
He felt it.
He knew the cause. He knew the loss. He knew the weight.
He breathed His last breath.
And He took it.
He took the pain. He took the load you carry.
He didn't cause it's existence to cease. He didn't blot it out of history's ledger.
But He pulled it to Himself. He brought it upon His own shoulders, and He wrapped you in grace. in perfected love. He took your hand and gave you His strength.
He whispered, gently, convincingly, "Take my yolk upon you, dear one, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Your pain is real. I want to recognize that. I see it filling you, seeping from your pores, attempting to suck the life from your heart.
But that baby?? The newborn Messiah, held close in His momma's arms on that cold night two thousand years ago?
He is power. He is strength. He is comfort. He is love.
And He came to give it to you.
To those who are hurting this Christmas season, I pray you will let Him hold you.
You are loved.
