Wow! Christmas is almost here! As Christmas draws closer, I close my eyes and count my blessings, so very many. I’m overwhelmed by all the Lord has provided me, especially in these last eight plus years since saying goodbye to my husband.
I’ve learned I’m a strong woman in many ways, and weak in others. Every day for each of us is a day of learning, but often we don’t realize this. I feel very alone a lot of the time. My grandparents are gone, my parents are gone, my husband is gone, my son is gone, and some of my dearest friends are gone, each new Christmas. I know they are no longer in pain or sorrow, and that makes me happy, yet the burden of loss is with me. Thankfully, I can lean on Jesus in the rare times, I feel alone. I’ve learned how to move forward and see beauty in each new day.
My heart overflows with gratitude for all the Lord has provided. I don’t need physical or worldly things for Christmas. All I want and need to receive and give is love. Christmas to me is all about love. It’s an emotional time of missing loved ones yet being happy for them to be with Jesus. It’s emotional remembering all the happy past Christmases when they were with me. It wasn’t about the presents under the tree, but about the love that surrounded us.
Yes, Christmas is love. In fact, life is about love. Didn’t Jesus prove that when He gave His life for us? The greatest love of all, the greatest gift ever given, came from Jesus.
So when I think about Christmas, I think about what love really means. Christmas and love…synonymous words. Lifting my cup of tea and wishing you all an abundance of love this Christmas, both given and received.
Carol Ann Erhardt, Author 