Whitnee's journey with Christ

🎶 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go

Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes that glow
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store

But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door

A pair of Hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben

Dolls that'll talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen

And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go

There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well
It's the sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the thing that'll make 'em ring is the carol that you sing

Right within your heart
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store

But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door
Sure, it's Christmas once more 🎶 

Even though this melody is in my ear from hearing it while standing in line at the grocery store to flipping through the radio stations; it doesn’t feel quite like Christmas this year. I love the Christmas songs, I love the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, I love to see the Christmas lights, and all of the Christmas decorations, and so much more! I love to hear the kids playing, laughing, and the joy in the air! But that’s just the thing….not as many lights this year, not too many decorating, the kids aren’t outside laughing and playing, and the joy sometimes feels distant and quiet.

Growing up every year I remember Melissa, Meg, and so many of us would sit up watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Story, Michael Jackson Live at Wimberly and so many classical shows. It’s been a while since we gathered together eating popcorn, drinking what used to be Nestle hot chocolate (now Starbucks- Melissa and Meg are fancy now), talking, laughing, and just enjoying each other. Grandma’s house has gotten quiet over the years. The lights don’t shimmer as bright at Ezelda’s. And Christmas never made it to our home since my mom’s passing. Oh how I miss the days that my mom and dad would laugh, dance, cook the most amazing foods, Grandma would sit in the kitchen smiling while snapping peas and cleaning greens, Granddaddy would be bringing in the firewood, Robert would be burning rubber on the dirt road, Bess would like at you intensely with a silent stare, Meg & Jacqueline would rush to Santee or Holy Hill for last minute things before CVS closed, Uncle George would be filling good and smiling as always, and Tal would be in the kitchen cooking up a storm and the kids would be outside playing and getting dirty.

From California, to Florida, to Japan, to Atlanta, to other parts of the map we are scattered but I sure look forward to the Holidays to celebrate together. Hopefully this year we can gather around warm memories, good food, laughter, fun, games, all while creating new fond memories and experiences.

Some may say I’m feeling a little BLUE this Christmas and I would have to agree. Christmas just isn’t the same as I think about all my loved ones that won’t make it home this year. It’s not that they missed their flight, aren’t coming into town this year…no I’m talking about the ones who’ve made their final resting place and where everyday is like Sunday! Mommy, Daddy, aunt’s and uncles, my sister, grandma and granddaddy, cousins, friends and family all get to celebrate Jesus in Heaven this year. Though I miss them dearly, I celebrate freedom in Christ and want to honor and bring glory to His name.

Many of us will gather at 4pm at Ascension Lutheran Church to have a Blue Christmas Service as we lament and honor the ones who simply can’t make it home for Christmas this year.

My heart aches tremendously for the ones who feel hopeless, lonely, or alot or a little melancholy. It might not be due to the loss of a loved one. It may be due to financial stress, mental health, physical ailments and hardships, inadequate medical care or treatment, pain, lack of heat, marital problems, unruly behavior from your kids, etc. Whatever it is, I feel the heaviness.

Romans 15 verses 1 through 6 reads:

We then who are strong out to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproach of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

My sisters and brothers as God calls us to bear one another burdens, I urge you to show compassion, empathy, kindness, and love this Christmas Holiday. Everyone isn’t all jingle bells, jingle bells you know?! Some have the disposition that Batman smells and Robin really did lay an egg! (Smile). I am reminded that the Bible doesn’t give direct instructions on how we should celebrate Holidays or the fact we have to celebrate at all but like in Romans 14:5-6 (today’s Scripture of the day) I am grateful that we have the freedom to express ourselves and observe the day as we sit fit.

With that said, don’t let anyone say you have to smile and be jolly for Christmas because that is their opinion. And like butt holes, every one has an opinion! Doesn’t mean they are right or thinking about butt holes, are actually “so fresh and so clean!” (A little Thursday humor). But in all seriousness, please don’t pass judgement on folks because they choose not to “celebrate” Christmas the way you do. No matter how you spend this Holiday season please remember to be kind to yourselves and kind to others. You can take it a step further and spread hope and cheer by glorifying God together. Sometimes it takes that one phone call, that one hug, that one invite to let people feel hope, love and joy.

My prayer for each of us is that we will rejoice and celebrate Jesus this Holiday season; that we find joy, hope, peace, and love in the silent moments, tearful moments, painful moments, hopeless moments, and numb moments. Prayers of safety, good health, the love of family, financial prosperity, protection, comfort, peace, love and joy to each of you and your families.

And again, Isaiah says:

“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:12-13

God bless you!