Christmas season isn’t a happy time for everyone, at least not every year. Today I was reminded of a time it was not happy for me.
I was emailing back and forth with a friend when I felt led to share a story with her.
I shared with her how seven years ago was my first Christmas alone after my husband was gone.
My daughter is married with kids of her own therefore they were spending Christmas morning at home and would come over later that day, which I thought was great for all of us.
My sisters have their own families, kids, grandkids and everyone is busy during the holiday. We get together on a day that is practical for all of us, which is not usually close to the actual Christmas day.
With all that being said, that Christmas morning I awoke alone at home. I walked through the house in my Christmas p.j.’s and popped some Christmas tunes in my cd player…then I walked into the living room and looked around.
There was my tree with presents for Breanne and her family, everything was ready for their arrival…but it was hours away. Suddenly I felt very sad about this particular Christmas.
What did I do? I had a pity party that first year. I said ‘God this is really sad. Here I sit alone at Christmas, no family here, no friends here, no presents to open (yes, I do know it is not about presents…but it was my pity party after all) God this really stinks!’ For me, that Christmas stunk.
I had a pity party to beat all pity parties but I didn’t tell anyone, because really, how childish was that! LOL
The next year, when the Christmas season came along, I knew it would be the same…waking up alone on Christmas…blah blah blah. However, I decided I was not going to be pitiful. God had told me years before that I could be pitiful or powerful but I could not be both at the same time.
That year a couple friends sent me a gift, prior to Christmas day. I didn’t open them, I placed them under my tree. On Christmas morning I awoke, I walked down the hall in my same Christmas p.j.’s and turned on Christmas music. I lit some candles, I sat down in front of my tree and Jesus and I opened the gifts I had received from friends. That year I took my power back. I refused to look at what I didn’t have and focus on all I did have AND BE THANKFUL AND JOYFUL!
This is the seventh year I will wake up alone at Christmas…but I am not alone. I am never alone. Jesus is my best friend, my comforter, my passion, the lover of my soul…and I can think of no one better than Him to spend this Christmas morning with…after all, it is all about Him.
So why am I sharing this story with you? Not to get sympathy, but to let you know that we are all human, we all have emotions and some days our emotions get the better of us. However, it does not have to be that way. Remember…it is our choice…we can be pitiful or powerful.
If you find yourself alone this year. If God has not yet manifested the restoration you long for. If this Christmas isn’t what you want it to be. If you are missing loved ones that have moved on to heaven. Whatever the reason is….remember this; you are not alone. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. God is with you.
The Bible says ‘this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.’ I WILL declares that we make a deliberate choice to rejoice and be glad, regardless of and in spite of, the circumstances.
Instead of having a pity party, like I did, find a way to be a blessing to someone else. It will change your entire perspective.
Oh! Our God is good and I look forward to celebrating Him Christmas day and every day in between, how about you?!
