Off and on for about 20 years, I taught Sunday School and worked with children in a church setting. I loved it, but as I increased my own family, I found myself needing a bit of a break on Sunday mornings, so I moved away from it a couple of years ago. It's been a healthy transition for me and provided the solace and rest I need on the Sabbath.
One of the things I used to teach the children around this time of the year is the importance of Easter. Yes, it's still a few months off, but hear me out. Without the sacrifice, death, and ascension of Christ, there would be no need to celebrate His birth, because He would not be Who He claimed to be during His years of ministry, or throughout the entirety of the Old Testament. He would simply be a nice man who treated people well and did some fun magic tricks. Why would we celebrate His birth over 2,000 years later if that's all He was?
Jesus has always been a forward thinker. He's always pushed us into the future and encouraged us to make choices based on who He is and who we are in Him. Looking back only serves the purpose of affirming who He is and why we should worship, love, and trust Him our whole lives. Without Easter, there would be no need for Christmas. Without Christ, there is no need for submission. And no real cause for joy in this fallen world.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
-John 1:14 (ESV)
So many folks lament this time of year that "everything is so commercialized" and to a point, they are correct. I feel they're missing a lot by focusing on all the wrong aspects of the season, though. Christmas doesn't have to be about commercialism, and we don't have to allow it to consume our lives, or even annoy us. Focusing on the commercial aspect is a choice - the same as my choice to focus on Easter a little bit during Christmas time.
My kids and I did a photoshoot years ago where we laid a baby doll in a little wooden crib and knelt down in front of it. We captioned the photo "Wise Men Still Seek Him." I can't find the photo offhand, but I'll keep looking. The point is that Jesus isn't still in the manger, and He isn't still on the cross. He's also not dead. Or in the womb. Or in the tomb. He's in Heaven with His Father, God while we are here on earth, seeking Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. He's left us the greatest gift - the Holy Spirit. By it, we have wisdom, understanding, and discernment when we read the Scriptures. What a gift!
We seek Jesus because we know there is nothing else on this earth that can ever satisfy that hole in our hearts the way God can. We were made to love Him, just as He was made to love us and teach us the true meaning of love and of sacrifice. As we choose what to focus on this holiday season, let us never forget to turn our eyes to Jesus and look to the future, embracing the joy and miracle that is the entire life and ministry of Jesus.
Stay tuned for another episode. I aim to crank out the blog posts three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. See you next time! And remember, if you or a loved one is in danger, get help immediately, and don't stop talking until someone acts on your words.
National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. SMS: Text START to 88788
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Hours: Available 24 hours. https://www.rainn.org/
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. https://988lifeline.org/
When someone's been hurt many times, it's completely normal to second-guess everything everyone says to you. After all, your heart is rather fragile and it's not advisable to allow it to be broken again. How long should that cautiousness be in effect, though? Is there ever an expiration date to being cautious and second-guessing others' intentions?
1 John 4:1 (ESV) reminds us "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." I'm a firm believer in education and in boundaries, meaning I test everything to see if it is information worth retaining. If I can't find at least three credible college-level sources to back up the information, I will toss it out and forget it. That goes for the things people tell me, too.
Lately, Anthony and I have been through the wringer. It's been about 9 months of just tough stuff - one trial right after the other. Financial, emotional, relational (not our marriage - that's rock solid), and health-wise, we've been suffering quite a bit. Our church family has reached out to us a lot, and it's been very comforting. It's also been really weird. We're not used to a healthy support team. I often second-guess what people mean when they ask if I'm okay.
Ten years ago, I was an absolute mess right after I came to Christ. If I were to stand toe to toe with that woman I was then, I wouldn't recognize her and she wouldn't recognize me. We are two vastly different people on the inside. Outwardly, too in a lot of ways. God has done a miracle within me. And yet, I still wonder if others see it the way I do? The folks who are in my life now only know portions of the stories of who I was then, and a pretty clear picture of what I am going through now. I often wonder if they inquire about my well-being to gauge if I'm still the mess of a woman I was 10 years ago? Do they think I'm about to fall apart in the same ways I did then? Because I'm not...
Today, I sat down with Anthony and shared that concern with him. I was contemplating emailing my Pastor, asking him to clarify what he meant when he asked yet again if I was okay. I felt offended by the question, but I didn't want to sin, so I talked it out with Anthony first. As we talked, it became clear to me that I was misinterpreting the intent and the question. They weren't asking to see if I would fall apart. They were asking because they genuinely care for me and my family and want to help.
After so much turmoil, lies, and narcissistic and emotional abuse, it's hard to rest in or even recognize real love. It feels foreign. I don't immediately recognize it and sometimes it takes me talking it out over the coffee table with my husband to even begin to grasp the concept. Do you have that issue too? If so, I hope we both can seek God in His Word and find healing from the pain of the past so we can embrace the godly love of the future.
Stay tuned for another episode. I aim to crank out the blog posts three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. See you next time! And remember, if you or a loved one is in danger, get help immediately, and don't stop talking until someone acts on your words.
National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. SMS: Text START to 88788
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Hours: Available 24 hours. https://www.rainn.org/
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. https://988lifeline.org/
