Christmas Eve Ponderings
December 25, 2019Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year, for many reasons, but most of all because of the anticipation associated with it! As a child I can remember going to church on the Eve of Christmas, but not really paying attention because I was wondering if Santa was loading presents under our tree while we were worshipping. Anticipation! Turns out he never was, for reasons I came to understand as I matured.
As a non-Santa believing person, I still liked Christmas Eve the best because of our many family traditions. We would decorate our tree, make a fire and some hot chocolate and snacks, open one present at midnight and then open the rest on Christmas morning. Anticipation!
Christmas Eve has been very kind to my family all of my life! And yet, I realize that is not everyone’s experience. I know that this day, and this season can be difficult for many people. Grief, illness, outlandish expectations, disappointment, family difficulties, to name a few, can cast quite a cloud on joyful anticipation.
This year, I have tasted a little of the sadness that many of you and others have experienced as it pains me to see my dear mom injured and incapacitated from a fall she had in early December. The X-ray results, thankfully, indicate she did not break anything. However, she did sustain some contusions in her back and she has severe arthritis there as well. My family is so thankful to God for protecting her, and now we seek His favor for relief from pain and for the ability to be more mobile. Anticipation!
While there’s a shadow of disappointment and sadness this Christmas Eve as mom’s health is compromised, there’s still joy because she’s still with us and we hope for renewal of strength. Anticipation!
However, my sadness makes me think of others who have deeper grief, disappointment, and loss. It makes me aware of the broken hearts of so many. A dear friend of mine woke up the other day and immediately began thinking of how this season is so difficult for so many and she found herself praying for those who came to mind and wishing there was “a quick fix”. There is not, but she realized there is this:
“The LORD your God in your midst, the MIGHTY ONE, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will exult over you with loud singing.” -Zephaniah 3:17
Never, on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas, have I pondered this obscure verse tucked away in a minor prophet’s book. So I began to study it and I began to take comfort in the thoughts expressed therein.
The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save! This passage gives us definite reasons for being consoled if we understand that:
– The LORD is in our midst
– The LORD is in our midst with power to save
– God takes joy in us
– God gives us rest in His love
– God sings over us
I don’t often think of God singing, but He does – and He sings over His people. This is how much joy and delight we give to the LORD, that He breaks into song! The realization of what God’s salvation means, His rejoicing over us, and loudly singing over us, pushes the shadow of disappointment aside! Anticipation!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! May we anticipate together, the plans and purposes God has for each of us!
