​Read this email in your browser.​

Christmas had a feeling through the years.

Growing up, it was reading the Christmas story of the long trek to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. On repeat per my request every night. The anticipation of waking mom and dad, tiptoeing down the long hallway together to see what gifts awaited, and if Santa ate his cookies.

Family dinner at Granny’s and Papa’s house. A feast enough for an army. More gifts to share. But we all knew it was the presence of each other that was the best gift.

As an adult and mother of my own littles, it became the 6-hour drive home no matter the weather, Christmas music blasting through the van while I sang and cried in anticipation of being with family again. A time to pass the traditions and create new ones.

Christmas Eve became Jesus’s birthday party. When we read the scripture telling of his birth, light a candle, and pass it around the room for each to tell what we will give Jesus that year (a struggle, a worry, a grief, or a need, or simply yourself). Anticipating what He will do with our gift over the next year.

Years pass and people pass.

Kids grow up and many marry.

Holidays become shared.

Suddenly we become the grandparents hosting Christmas, building on traditions we hope will last.

How did time slip so fast between the years?

Finances drop. Or maybe they rise.

Relationships crumble.

People change. Sometimes for the good, other times for harm.

Health comes and health goes.

Feelings come and feelings vanish.

What then?

Advent is more than a celebration that Jesus came. It is also the cry of every weary soul who’s weathered the years and lost the feeling. Advent is the anticipation that our hope will not disappoint, that Jesus WILL come again. That all is NOT lost in the Kingdom of God.

Advent is our declaration of Truth when all feeling is gone.

​
​

Come, Lord Jesus. Come.

​
​

For those whom Christmas felt empty as a child, whose anticipation was built up only for disappointment, I am deeply sorry. While hope deferred does make the heart sick, a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12) Jesus is that life. He bore every sorrow on a tree so we can have true life. May he come now to you in oh so tangible ways.

If you've lost that Christmas feeling, be gentle with yourself. Be honest about it with Jesus. Instead of trying to recreate a former feeling, ask him to meet you in the emptiness; to give you eyes to see him, ears to hear him, and a heart and mind to understand how he is coming for you. He will come...

I'd love to hear what some of your favorite childhood memories are, and/or what new traditions you've adopted for your own family. Hit reply to share!

If you found yourself here by way of a friend, click the image link below to subscribe. It would be a grace to sit together. Explore our stories, yours and mine. See how God might write this chapter.