For many, this Christmas is a day of reflection — a reflection of a year that may have not been so good. For others, their reflection is of a year full of joy and wonderful life circumstances. For each of you in each of these categories, know this one thing: here we all are on this Christmas Day alive, reading, and experiencing another Christmas. If we have no more than that, we are blessed.
I certainly don’t wish to diminish any problems that are real and devastating in the lives of our partners. In fact, the opposite is true. My heart goes out to all those who find themselves today in a tough spot of any kind. It breaks me to know that for those who find themselves there, I cannot do anything but pray. Let me pray for you right now:
“Lord, I am so sad that many friends find themselves today in a less than desirable place in which many things have gone wrong. I hurt for them. And I know you do too. I pray that you today would reach into their hearts and ease the pain that always bookends the bad things in our lives. Many of these things are direct results of poor choices. But many more are just bad things that happened to good people. In either case, please intervene in their pain.”
“I would be remiss if I did not say to you, Lord, ‘Thank you’ for your sacrifice as a Man after leaving Heaven to come to Earth as a baby just so you could allow yourself to be sacrificed for the wrongs committed by people like me so that we can have an eternity with You. Please, today let those who are hurting so terribly understand You ARE with them in the middle of their conflicts. You DO care about every pain and heartache they experience today. Please cover them in Your warmth and let them feel that love that led you here. And last, thank You for all you have done for me.”
Merry Christmas to you all!
Dan
