How Much is Enough During Christmas Time

I've been pondering a special theme in my life this Christmas. Christmas is often a time of tradition and good things. If you are like me, though, you may feel how fleeting it is, and you may wish there were a more permanent nature to the peacefulness and joy of the season.

So this theme about which I write goes back to morning my dad called and told me my mom was sick with cancer years ago. Something changed deep inside of me, and it has never changed back. I remember getting onto the subway to go to work and looking at a poster with an attractive guy trying to sell something. I remember that my first thought was, "That guy's flashy smile doesn't matter. Whatever he's trying to sell, his looks and charm are irrelevant." The thought took me by surprise, but it came about because suddenly I was forced to pay acute attention to something that did matter: the fleeting nature of earthly life. In the wake of important things, the superficial ones take a backseat. The situation had a separating effect, kind of like how sifting separates light flour from larger chunks of wheat.

Anyway, this separating continued. Soon before my mom died in 2012, I kept wanting to share certain "last times" with her. The last time singing to her. The last time sharing our favorite episode of Cupcake Wars. But it hit me: how much is enough? Do I share 1 final time and have it matter? Did it matter the previous time? What figurative emptiness is it filling if it's never enough? These things weren't bad in and of themselves, but I felt there must be a better way to grab hold of what I did not want to lose.

Then the separating became apparent in my everyday life. During the summer of 2013 as I prepared to move from Boston to NYC, it noticed something new. I wanted to see that friend one last time while we still lived near each other. I want to go to that restaurant, that cupcake place, whatever, one more time. But why? Doing these familiar things is nice, but in reality, I could do it 100 more times and it would all be the same.

The truth is that we don't get our fill of the things we love by simply having them around us anymore than we are satisfied by looking at a steak dinner many times and walking away from it. It's nice to look at it, but only because it makes us want more!

Thankfully, there is more.

It just begs the question, "What about our favorite people, traditions, and experiences are we stuck on?" Is it the tradition itself, the feeling it gives us, or something even stronger? For example, I loved Christmas growing up. We had lots of family, a beautiful annual Christmas Eve candel light service, gifts, and delicious food. But when I really look closely on what I loved about Christmas, it wasn't the traditions. It was the warm feeling of being safe and wanted, and the excitement that there's something great to celebrate.

Knowing this helps me in hard times. During the times when family isn't near, money for gifts is sparse, or disaster strikes, we aren't left out in the cold if we focus on truth. We can take heart that are always wanted by our Heavenly Father who wraps us in love, even if we have a falling out with loved ones. And He keeps you safe, too.

Friend, He invites you so close this Christmas. That's the whole essence of the holiday: Heaven and it's beauty and love came to shine in earth's cold and dark places. Daddy God desires that you, His precious child, come sit on His lap and let Him love you. He isn't asking if you're naughty or nice, He just wants you near! Make time to receive all He has for you this year, and I guarantee, you will experience your best Christmas yet. One that nothing can take away.