Sometimes Christmas Hurts
How to Find Joy in the Darkness
4 years ago, my friend’s son died just before Christmas.
Andrew lived a troubled life. He had demons, and they rose up and got the best of him, often.
But he was charming, despite his flaws.
My daughter dated him for a few months.
Not long after the breakup, Andrew moved to Florida. He was finally starting to get his life together. We couldn’t be happier for him.
Then one day, while he was crossing the street, his life came to an abrupt end.
He was 21 years old.
It Just Isn’t Fair
Friends and family shouldn’t die at Christmas.
They shouldn’t have to spend the holidays in the hospital.
We all should all be as happy as the folks in the Hallmark movies.
But we aren’t.
Life isn’t fair. Sometimes it hurts. We’re not guaranteed we’ll live tomorrow.
The one thing that keeps me going when the world seems to be spinning out of control is my faith. To me, the Christmas story is more than that. It’s an invitation to know the God of the Universe is a lot like me. And that He cares deeply for me, for you, and for everyone who was ever born.
The Babe Was Born to Die
Read any one of the New Testament Gospels and you get the same story. The baby Jesus lived into his 30s and was executed like a common criminal.
Is that fair?
Hardly.
It hurt His Father, too.
But it was worth the price for him to pay for all the sins of the world. By all, I mean, everything from stealing a paper clip to mass murder.
And all you have to do is accept the invitation to believe it for yourself.
The bottom line is God knows how it feels to lose a loved one.
What Does This Mean for You?
When you’re down and depressed and the pain feels so bad you can’t take it anymore, He’s there.
You can cry, cuss, or spit in His face and He’ll listen — in love.
He might even make the pain bearable.
And since Jesus rose, you have hope that you’ll see your departed loved one again in the hereafter.
Be Someone Else’s Comfort and Joy
If you’re suffering, I’m sure you’d love someone to hug you, dry your tears, and listen without judging.
Now go do that for someone else.
You can’t bring a loved one back. But you can celebrate her life and impact. And you can do things that keep her legacy alive.
That might be the best Christmas gift you’ll ever give. And the most memorable.
