Hope During the Holidays

While most of the country has spent the last month in a frenzy of holiday shopping, baking and decorating, we sometimes forget those experiencing pain during this season. Earlier this month I read a lady's blog that chronicles her years of struggle with infertility. She confided with her readers that while she receives countless Christmas pictures in the mail of her friends' cute kiddos, the holidays are very sad for her. Longing for a child of her own she has renamed Christmas a "helliday", instead of a holiday.

As a mother, and a woman with my own history of infertility and miscarriages, I hurt for this young woman. I know the pain she feels during this season. Yet there were some aspects of her struggle that I cannot relate to. During my years of infertility, I experienced hope; not a hope of having children one day, but a hope that Jesus would give me joy despite my circumstances. Hope that I would enjoy peace in life whether I had another child or not. Hope that no matter what trials I faced here on earth, eternal life with Jesus would far outweigh it all. And Christmas was always a joyous time, not a "helliday". Why? Because Christmas was about CHRIST, not me.

As I think of this holiday season, my heart goes out to friends and loved ones facing trials even now:

* My aunt and cousins who lost their dear 43-year-old son and brother this summer
* My cousin who lost her mother unexpectedly after Thanksgiving some years ago
* My father-in-law whose mother (and my husband's grandmother) just passed 
* Two sister-friends who recently suffered miscarriages
* The single mama holding it down, loving her children and the Lord with all her might
* The wives, children, parents and siblings of fallen U.S. soldiers on foreign soil

And there are many others bearing heartaches this Christmas. You may be one of them. Please know that above all, God loves you passionately, dearly and immeasurably. He came to earth as a little baby, suffered physical and emotional pain and died on a cross for you and me. Trust me -- He understands pain. He understands your pain. And He won't waste it. He'll use it to draw you to Him, grow you up in Him, make you more like Him. Romans 8:18 says "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

I pray you find rest during this sacred season and wholly depend on Jesus through it. I've written a short poem to celebrate this beautiful Christmas evening...

Love,

Carla

'Twas the Night of Christmas

'Twas the night of Christmas, when all through the house,

Every creature was thankful for his or her loved ones, friends and spouse.

The gifts were displayed under the tree with care,

In hopes that Christmas joy would always be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of the Christ-child danced in their heads;

Meanwhile my husband and I reminisced about Christmas day,

The joy of Jesus' coming chasing our sorrows away.

May you too enjoy the love of Jesus tonight,

And I pray that His joy would overcome your worst plight.

Tonight I exclaim with all of my might,

"Trust in Him! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!"