Odds are, I have said these words here in this space before, probably more than once. The holidays can be hard. Amidst the fa-la-la-la-la and the merriment of the season, not everyone is filled with the Christmas spirit. Life has its challenges. Money is tight, stress levels are up, and if you have someone that is missing from your family gathering this year, you may not feel much like celebrating of any kind.
Times like now, because I am one of those who doesn’t necessarily feel the need to celebrate, we have to lean on memories, our faith, and look for a reason to find joy somewhere in our midst. For me, it is the two precious grandbabies that I will see. It is having all of my kids under one roof and I have to admit, I am excited to give out one special gift this year. I also find comfort and joy in the helping of others like angel trees and charity organizations like Cypress Basin Hospice and For the Sake of One. Giving to others can be a catalyst for joy during the holidays.
The fact is, regardless, not everyone is happy. In the hustle and bustle, it is easy to let things bother us and take away from the happiness. I was kinda in that place this morning, until a word from Heaven came through the voice of Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church.
Furtick said, “If you’re like me, sometimes you can feel very overwhelmed. You know the feeling: “I can’t keep doing this. It’s too much. I don’t even feel like trying today.”
When you’re in the middle of a storm like that, it seems like even the smallest thing can take you out. But I want you to take comfort in this: Jesus not only saw this storm before He sent you into it, He saw what was on the other side of it. Receive that. Take a deep breath. There are miracles on the other side of this. Even if it’s exhausting right now, I promise you one thing: it’s worth it. You have the presence of Christ on the inside, and that’s a promise that won’t fail.”
The presence of Christ. Think about that for a minute. It is the presence of Christ in our lives that gives us the ability to have a pipeline of joy and happiness in our lives every single moment. And, that presence all began with a baby in a manger, the gift above all gifts, and the reason we celebrate Christmas.
That gift is free. It doesn’t cost us anything. But, we do have to ask for it. We have to receive it, and often times when we are struggling, we forget that it is even there.
A friend of mine reminded me of something this morning. They spoke of a time when they were struggling with alcohol addiction. A decision was made to stop drinking, but the label of “alcoholic” would not go away. They counted the days they had been sober. The months and even the years, but after eight years without a drink, the label was still there. They felt like they were just one drink away from falling backwards. Then one day in a grocery store a bottle of alcohol was dropped and broken in front of them in the checkout line. My friend froze at the sight, afraid that the smell would reach their nose and the addiction would surface. Instead, they found that the smell became a stench and that stench convinced them that the label of addiction was no longer relevant.
You ask me, what does that story have to do with Christmas, or being happy. Well, as a person who once had that label myself, I can tell you that the joy and happiness experienced when you realize that label is no longer relevant is about the best gift you can get.
This Christmas, and going into the new year, what label do you need to get rid of for good? What gift do you need to give yourself ? Let me encourage you, while you are busy making sure others have gifts to open, open one for yourself. Let your heart know that the baby in the manger is waiting to give you the best gift ever. A clean heart, a happy soul, and a new label is what He is ready to give you this year.
All you have to do is ask.