Christmas is such a busy time with shopping, baking, parties, decorating, special events at church and work and the list just goes on and on.  Yet in all the busyness I find myself alone at times thinking of those I miss that are far away and those that have gone on to be with Jesus.

I miss Mom and Dad who are no longer with us and Andy’s mom who was such a joy at Christmas time.  She loved to give and give to everyone.  Aunts, uncles, and cousins that have gone before us are among those who I miss too.  It is good to remember and to cherish the memories.  It’s even more wonderful to know that I will be with them again one day in heaven.

But for today I miss others in my family so far away in others states that I won’t be able to be with them this Christmas. We are  spread out all over the country.  Some are north, some far north, some way up the coast and some south!  Yes, it is really hard emotionally for us to all be so far apart this Christmas.

I have talked to them and I know this part of the Christmas season is hard for them too.  We are so used to everyone being together at Thanksgiving and Christmas that it is difficult to face the fact that we will be apart this year.  Marriages and careers have a way of branching out families.

But think about this, when we go outside at night and look up no matter what state we are in we all see the same beautiful nighttime sky with the moon and the stars that God made so long ago.  It is comforting to know that God’s Presence is with all of us at the same time too.  His ear hears all of us when we pray.  His heart knows our struggles with being separated this year.  He knows, He cares and He hears our every prayer and our every sigh.

Psalm 38:9 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.

We can talk to God and let Him know how thankful we are for the families He has given us.  We must tell Him all that is in our hearts and ask Him to show us the best way to handle our hurts and the disappointment of not being together this year.

Just this evening we enjoyed a beautiful cantata at our church! It reminds me that Jesus is the heart of the Christmas season.  Our thoughts must be centered on Jesus and remember that we are all one in Him even though far apart.  When we look to Jesus we realize that the He is our hope, our joy and our peace.

Let’s focus on how to share the joy and hope of Christmas with those around us wherever we are and soon we will all have blessings to share with one another for you know it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁵ In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said,‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Merry Christmas to all!