Christmas greetings to you, dear friends. As this day arrives once again, my hope for each of you is peace in your hearts, joy that runs deeper than circumstances, and good health for the days ahead. I’m grateful for every one of you who reads these words, and I’m mindful that behind each screen is a real life with real joys – and real burdens.
For many, this season does not feel particularly joyful or light. Some are walking through their first Christmas without someone they love dearly, learning what it means to grieve while the world seems determined to celebrate. Others are carrying financial pressures, health concerns, fractured relationships, or a quiet loneliness that feels particularly painful this time of year. Christmas has a way of changing from one year to the next, sometimes in ways we never anticipated. What once felt full can suddenly feel empty… what once felt familiar can feel strange.
And yet, Christmas Day comes all the same. It arrives whether we are surrounded by family or sitting alone, whether our tables are full or modest, whether our hearts feel hopeful or heavy. That, in itself, is part of the beauty of Christmas. Jesus meets us exactly where we are – not where we wish we were, not where others think we should be, but right here, in the middle of our real lives.
The challenge of Christmas is not to pretend that everything is fine or to ignore what we are facing today. Rather, it is to pause and remember what happened some 2,000 years ago on the day we celebrate. God stepped into our broken world. He sent His Son to mend what humanity had shattered. He sent His Son to offer a future more complete and fulfilling than anything we could ever imagine. He sent His Son to give us LIFE – true life, everlasting life, a hope-filled life.
So whatever this day looks like for you – comfortable or difficult, joyful or aching – may you remember the heart of Christmas, not just today, but every day. We are not alone. We never have been. Immanuel – God is with us. May that truth steady your soul and carry you forward, today and always.
Wishing you much joy and peace today.
Merry Christmas!
Former Blackout Artist 