The Grinch

Lord, the now familiar story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has resonated throughout my life for quite a few years now.  The Grinch, because of his cruel, tiny heart decides that he is going to get rid of Christmas and takes all resemblances of Christmas away, thinking that Christmas cannot be celebrated without all the gifts, decorations and food.  For many this is true, Lord.  Yet You have shown me and placed in my heart a deep desire to celebrate the real reason for Christmas no matter what.  This year that lesson is extremely poignant in my life.  

This year, Lord, there is no Christmas tree in my home.  You have simply “deleted” that from my Christmas this year due to my health problems.  There are gifts, yet those gifts are simpler this year.  We will go to my Daddy’s house, Lord, and have one of our daughters with us there, yet I wonder how much strength You will give me while there to do all the things I usually do when visiting my family.  While I am so very grateful to be able to go to see my family, this year that isn’t the focus of my Christmas.  This year my focus is You.  May it always be so. 

Despite the world’s celebration of a secular Christmas, You have graced me with most wondrous times with You when I see that Christ in Christmas has not entirely been lost.  There was the spontaneous singing of Christian Christmas carols at the mall online.  The time of peace and solitude as I listened to Christmas carols with You in bed last night.  The peace of knowing that You are King and Lord of All, even when my “traditional” Christmas is altered because of my health.  You have truly given Christmas a new meaning for me this year.  More concentrated on You and the wondrous gift of Your Son, His life and His death for the salvation of the world, including me.  He truly is the Reason for the season.  I pray that more and more people in this world will realize this and turn their hearts toward Your Son at Christmas and throughout the year.  HE is the Gift.  May You be glorified in Christmas forever and always.  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”  Colossians 1:15-17

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14