I remember numerous Christmas experiences from childhood, and I’m very fortunate that they are happy memories, for the most part. I grew up in a very large family where relationships and togetherness made the Christmas season feel like a happy occasion. I’m not making that up.
My parents didn’t put a high value on buying gifts. Maybe that’s because shopping for 15 children would be a daunting project. By the time I came along, there were already in-laws and grandkids added to the family. Gifts were limited, and gifts were small.
What seems remarkable is that while we eagerly anticipated the gifts, we were not disappointed at getting just one. That’s all we imagined. However, I was disappointed with the item, a time or two. One year when I was really hoping for a toy truck, I got a softball instead. Probably because a softball could be had for less than a dollar.
Disappointments are common at Christmas, and I feel sad when I think about our many friends who are hurting for various reasons. There are family relationships that leave hurts and tensions. There are health issues that are frightening and unpredictable. There are financial issues that seem to add stresses.
I really hope–and pray–that you are encouraged to find joy in being with people. I hope that this is a season in which you might restore a broken or stressful relationship with another person.
I pray that you find celebration apart from the amount of money that is available to celebrate with, and that instead you enjoy the ones you love. Jesus came to share our space in this world to demonstrate that all the things we crave are found in the experience of his love–shared among people.