In all seriousness, I am a BIG fan of Christmas. I love the hustle and bustle of it all, honestly. All of the hallmark stuff: drinking holiday drinks, shopping for the perfect gift, eating your weight in homemade cookies, and hearing jingle bells. I love it. But at the core of all that joy is a real, genuine love for the reason we even celebrate Christmas. I find it so important to be looking for God in this season. I don’t always see Him in big, divine, miraculous moments. More often than not, He’s in the tiniest details, the simplest joys.
This week, I saw Jesus when a teenager brought two full bags of donations she bought with her own money for foster families into my office. It was simple. She didn’t want recognition or praise, but she was bubbling over with extreme joy as she showed me all of the little things she bought. Her giddiness was contagious, and I only grew more excited when I pictured foster kids receiving the items she handed me.
I saw Jesus in Christmas lights this week. While we drove around and I sipped on a warm peppermint mocha, my tummy felt full of Christmas cheer. The snow fell and sparkled around the truck. We drove past the Kinney Christmas House, where my dad used to take us every year as kids. I was overcome with so many complex feelings as I remembered what the magic of Christmas felt like at that age and as I thought about how much I wished my dad was still here to see those lights. But God was right there in the warmth of the truck as I realized how blessed I am to love the people who sat next to me.
I saw Jesus as I sat at a table in the homeless shelter chatting with some of the guests. One said, “Don’t quit your day job. I heard you singing in the shower!” As we all laughed and the gentleman she was picking on tried to defend himself, I spoke up and said, “It really depends on WHAT you were singing though! Was it any good?” Come to find out, this tall, loud voiced, older man who also had his finger nails painted was singing, “Mr. Brightside,” by The Killers. That’s going to bring a smile to my face for a long time. I can't imagine being without housing, without family to go home to for Christmas, and my only belongings being what I can carry on my back. Sometimes you find the joy of the Lord through loud shower singing.
I also saw God last night watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with some of my favorite people. I love that movie for lots of reasons, it brings back a lot of happy memories for me. I specifically remember laughing until I cried the first time I saw the scene where Clark takes the family sledding. While we watched last night, I knew Colin was going to lose his mind when that sled shot off into the distance, so I made sure to have my phone ready. That kid laughed harder than I have heard him laugh in a long time! The joy that came from watching him enjoy that scene as much as I did when I saw it for the first time was something so sweet and wonderful, that it only could have been a gift from God.
He’s in the simple things. The things that make my heart warm and my spirit smile. God is in my niece’s giggle, and the love in her eyes when she reaches for me. He’s in the moody, warm light of my Christmas tree, the cozy smell of my coffee candle, and the fluttering crystal snow falling outside my windows. He’s in the big things too, like the generosity of my friends and family, in the crazy ways they have made me feel loved this year.
God meets me inside the quiet moments, when I finally hit the pillow each night of December just before crashing out. When I spend just a few moments thanking Him for the beautiful life He’s blessed me with before exhaustion takes over and I’m lost in heavy sleep. I imagine, He’s there comforting me in my dreams too.
I work a relatively thankless job. While most people are already on vacation, or preparing for several days off, the last week, and through the next several days will be the busiest, most nonstop work I’ll do all year. I’m going to be exhausted, and the parts of Christmas that I love the most, I’ll be limping into. It’s all a price I’m willing to pay because I know what it’s like to sit quietly in a room and know that I am loved, and that God is working on my behalf. I know the confidence that comes in knowing my future in His hands, and that He has good plans worked out for me. If what I sacrifice can lead someone to take a step toward that freedom and eternity, I’ll pay up every single year, everyday. It means that much to me.
Christmas can be hard. For most, around every corner is a reminder of grief, a picture of what they long for desperately, but just don’t have access to for one reason or another. It’s fast paced, and full of lots of people. There’s a pressure to maintain a lot of energy and happiness. Truthfully, there are aspects of my life that I wish were different right now. There are lots of people that I care about that are struggling, and there are conversations I don’t want to have. But I will power through, and because of that, hopefully someone will meet Jesus.
What fuels me and pushes me forward through this season, what inspires me to finish the race, are all of the little glimpses of God along the way. His voice is in the words of my friends that tell me, “You do so much for other people. Don’t forget to do for you.” His reassurance is in the belly laughter of my coworkers at our staff Christmas party. His love is in the long hugs of people that I love and that want to be near me for the holidays.
I see God because I am looking for Him. I see Him because even though there aren’t a lot of still moments to spare right now, when I get a moment, I’m doing my best to thank Him, and remember just how many good things really are around me. I need to keep searching for God. Even though I know Him, love Him, and adore Him, sometimes His whispers and embraces breeze right past me, if I’m not looking for them. In a season that literally exists to celebrate His existence, it’s so easy to lose sight of what’s truly important: Jesus. For me to be able to celebrate and thank him properly, I have to be watching for Him.
Don’t let the simple joys pass you by as you stress too much over gift wrapping and meal prepping. Look for God, and I promise you will find Him. Maybe it all sounds cliche, but I think we could all use that reminder. Breathe, friend. Appreciate this new day, and watch for all of the good things God has given you. I bet He blows you away!
You are truly and deeply loved!
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