Officially Technological
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Did I make you gag with my title? Of course I have tidings of comfort and joy, I just got a new job, I just got married (and quite happily married - I might add), I scored a house along with my marriage, and I'm wearing my favorite Christmas sweater (it's neon red). So, yeah, of course I can wish tidings of comfort and joy because my life is lookin' pretty darn good this Christmas. But not everyone's life is looking so... uh... neon red this Christmas.
I think back to family friend who lost his wife last December (or early January, I don't remember exactly when). I think about my friends Chad and Rebekah who have just had a baby very, very premature, and don't get to spend Christmas snuggling her, because she's in an incubator. I think about a kid at church who will be spending Christmas alone this year because he's no longer young enough to be in the foster care system, and his mom doesn't want anything to do with him. I think about a co-worker who can't afford gifts for her kids this year because of a nasty divorce. I think about another co-worker whose son was murdered last weekend in a case of mistaken identity. It's sad. Life is just sad. And just because mine isn't right now doesn't mean that it hasn't been in the past, and it doesn't mean it won't be in the future. Sometimes life just sucks.
But as much as I'm aware that life can kick your butt, I'm even more aware that when life kicked my butt, the message of Christmas gave me comfort and joy. Christmas says: "Hang on. Help is on the way. In a few years, this kid's going to grow up and everything will be better. Why? Because this baby will take care of every burden, every pain, every hurt, every mistake, every failure, this baby can heal you." The message of God says, "It's just temporary. It's going to be OK. I promise."
So, for those of you who are thinking to yourselves, "Hmph, who has ever heard of tidings of comfort and joy in this place?" hang in there. It's going to be OK. And look for that baby. He'll make everything better. I promise.
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10b-11)
I think back to family friend who lost his wife last December (or early January, I don't remember exactly when). I think about my friends Chad and Rebekah who have just had a baby very, very premature, and don't get to spend Christmas snuggling her, because she's in an incubator. I think about a kid at church who will be spending Christmas alone this year because he's no longer young enough to be in the foster care system, and his mom doesn't want anything to do with him. I think about a co-worker who can't afford gifts for her kids this year because of a nasty divorce. I think about another co-worker whose son was murdered last weekend in a case of mistaken identity. It's sad. Life is just sad. And just because mine isn't right now doesn't mean that it hasn't been in the past, and it doesn't mean it won't be in the future. Sometimes life just sucks.
But as much as I'm aware that life can kick your butt, I'm even more aware that when life kicked my butt, the message of Christmas gave me comfort and joy. Christmas says: "Hang on. Help is on the way. In a few years, this kid's going to grow up and everything will be better. Why? Because this baby will take care of every burden, every pain, every hurt, every mistake, every failure, this baby can heal you." The message of God says, "It's just temporary. It's going to be OK. I promise."
So, for those of you who are thinking to yourselves, "Hmph, who has ever heard of tidings of comfort and joy in this place?" hang in there. It's going to be OK. And look for that baby. He'll make everything better. I promise.
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10b-11)
2 Comments:
Love your Christmas picture. Talk about finding the perfect picture to send with cards. Wait till you get mine (which will be after Christmas by the way) total oppposite effect.
Great post, good to remember to be thankful for our state in life and to pray for those less fortunante.
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