Alone at Christmas

As a child, I loved Christmas. I believed in magical things like the North Pole, Santa Clause, flying reindeer, and elves. It was easy to imagine Santa flying all over the world. It was not just about the presents he was bringing but the fact that he would be visiting the home of every child in the world. We all were waiting for his arrival. 

 There was the great anticipation of Christmas Eve and the joy of Christmas morning.  Even in all of the excitement of the day, there was still a longing I couldn't quite grasp.  There was something about being united in something, but I didn't know what that was until I was older. 

This longing still lives in my memory. The picture is of a community gathered around a giant Christmas tree in the city square, snow falling, lights twinkling, everyone singing Christmas carols.  The gift being, everyone knowing that they are where they belong, with friends, with family, with people they love.   In this idealistic fantasy there is no one standing alone.  

Christmas can be a stark reminder that life is not made up of childhood wishes and it doesn't always end like the Hallmark movies.  

 The holiday season is one of gathering together.  There are parties and dinners.  There are gift exchanges and Secret Santa's.  We are surrounded by large amounts of people and yet we feel more alone than ever.  Whether you are the one at the party or the one who sits at home, you both feel the same sense of being alone. 

I want to tell you are not alone in your loneliness.  Believe it or not, you are part of a large group of people.  If there were a way for me to bring you all together, you would see how many people feel just like you. 

I wish I could make my childhood Christmas wish come true where you are all standing with me in the city square,  joined as one, singing Christmas carols around the giant Christmas tree.  As much as I wish I could make this happen, I can't.   All I have to offer you is this: the one who sees you, the one who loves you, Jesus. 

Jesus has come and filled all that was empty in my life.  Jesus has offered me what people have never been able to give me.  I no longer feel the emptiness of disconnection but the hope of life with Him.  I know it might sound crazy to you, but I am His and He is mine, He never leaves me, He never betrays me, He never hurts me.   He fills me with joy and hope that I would not have without him.  

When we depend on people for our happiness and fullness, most of the time we are disappointed.  Even though the parties are great and being around people can be fun, they can be draining as well.  We are searching for more than polite dinner conversation.  We want someone to ask how we are and care about what we say.  We are looking for a connection deeper than most people can offer or sustain. What we are looking for is something we can only find in Christ.

With Him I am never alone

 So you see, Jesus is the Christmas miracle for me and for you.  Even if you don't believe in Him, He believes in you. He came in the form of a baby,  grew into a man that was destined to be the Savior of the world.  He came to bring us the hope of something greater than ourselves, greater than this earthly life can deliver. He came in the unconditional love of the Father for us so that we would never be alone again. 

It so simple and yet can be so hard to believe. 

Should you find yourself alone this Christmas, call out to Him. You have absolutely nothing to lose, but you have everything to gain. I can tell you that if you seek him, you will find him. 

May this be the year where the Christmas miracle of Christ becomes yours.