#blessed on Christmas

Wait for it. It’s Christmas Eve and do you know what that means in the social media world? It means that by midnight tonight, you will have seen no less than five of your social media pals post photos of their living rooms bursting with gifts stacked to the ceiling, overtaking all of the surrounding furniture.  The packages will dance in the twinkling Christmas tree lights, ribbons and bows cascading down the mountains of gifts and the innocent poster will write something along the lines of, “They’ve been good this year”, or “Santa stopped here”, and most of them will tag this post “#blessed”.  At that, I will virtually throat punch said poster.  

Not because I don’t want to see photos of their beautiful tree and decorations… not because I’m jealous over how full their living room looks… not because I think they’re trying to outdo their friends (although part of me certainly feels this way). I want to throat punch people who tag their mountains of gifts with “#blessed” because I really don’t feel like God has a single care in favor of your consumerism.  I just don’t.  If you want to shower your family in a multitude of gifts tomorrow – do it.  If you want to post a thousand pictures of how excited little Johnny was when he saw the Lamborghini you bought him in the driveway – cool, maybe he deserves it.  Just don’t pretend like that’s the overflow of God’s endless love for you.  It’s not.

Maybe I have this stance because I can honestly say that there was one Christmas in our family where we felt the Christmas Spirit absolutely saturate every second of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day… even a few days later.  There were presents, yes… but not an abundant amount.  There was sadness and heartache and boundless love and joy that leapt from our hearts.  That, my friends, was the Christmas when I felt like we were truly in God’s presence and where I felt like He was showering us with blessings through others around the clock.  So this Christmas Eve, I want you to look around you and seek out the true blessings you see – I promise they’re not under the tree.

Blessed is the woman whose house is full of the laughter and excitement from her grandkids, but painfully absent of the voice of her husband for the first Christmas since he passed.

Blessed is the man showing up full of energy and love – holding up his children with cracked and calloused hands.  He’s been working double shifts – sometimes late into the night – supporting the family he dearly loves.  His body is more tired than you can imagine, but he’s here and he’s savoring this little time he has off.

Blessed are the young parents scraping by each and every day who are watching their children open the gifts that their church family surprised them with to make Christmas a little less stressful.

Blessed is the man spending this season deployed – again – missing his family tremendously.  And blessed is his family praying diligently that he comes home safely.

Blessed is the woman whose Christmas jammies lay flat against her rib cage this Christmas.  Cancer may have taken her breasts, but she is still here to celebrate with her family.

Blessed is the couple sitting with empty arms again this year – waiting as patiently as possible for God’s timing in starting their family.

Blessed is the Dad decorating windows and doors of a hospital room with as many festive window clings as he can find because he can’t bring his little girl home for Christmas – so he’s doing his best to bring home to her on Christmas.

Blessed is the single mom who wakes up to a cup of coffee instead of the joyous pleas from her children this Christmas – her kids are waking up at dad’s house.  This year was hard on her – the future seems a little brighter, but this morning, the silence is deafening.

Blessed are the families who have been given impossible news.  They’re gathering and celebrating, knowing full well that there is a loved one among them who will not be here next Christmas.  They’re doing their best to pass on traditions with joy this year.

Blessed is the mom who brought her kids to the cemetery again this year so that her young kids could decorate Dad’s headstone with ornaments.  Dad loved Christmas, and she’s trying every day to keep his memory alive for her children.

Blessed are the ones who sit at home with nowhere to rush off to – no planned visitors on Christmas.  Alone – just alone.

Know that God sees these people – these families – and pours out His blessings in a big way.  The blessings aren’t packaged beautifully, but they spill over and drown out the sadness and hurt.  His blessings offer peace in the storm – wholeness in the midst of brokenness – and joy even when the world is complete chaos.  So take the photos, shower your family with gifts in whatever way you want this year.  Just know that blessings can come as heartache and pain – blessings root us back to the true meaning of Christmas.  They bring us back to that baby in the manger who brought redemption to us all.  They are humble… they are miraculous… and they come with some pain.  Don’t miss these beautiful blessings this Christmas.  And don’t mistake your financial situation and ability to pile up the gifts as the blessing that God wants most for you.  There is SO MUCH MORE going on than that.  See the blessings all around you this year and if you’re like me and know people in every one of the above situations, BE the blessing to them.  I promise the joy you’ll find will not be gone by January 1^st.

A few of our biggest blessings this year: