Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Christmas carols are heard everywhere. The twinkling lights that remind us of the Light of Christ are dancing on homes. Little children are getting more excited every day for Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve. Kitchens are filled with the heavenly aromas of Christmas goodies. Whether you’re a minimalist and decorate your home with simple, yet beautiful touches of red, green and silver, or you deck your home out like a Christmas store – with lots of gold and glitter and more Santas than you could shake a Christmas tree at, it is still all about the blessing of our Lord’s birth that we express in our hearts and our homes.

While Christmas is full of joy and celebration, it can still be very somber and painful for many. I know that feeling. My daddy passed away on December 17th when I was just 15-years-old. I remember my mother’s tears as she unwrapped his presents from under the tree. My own precious husband passed away on November 16th, and Christmas would never be the same again because Papa wouldn’t be here to read his hilarious version of “A Christmas Story” to the grandkids, who adored when he changed his accents for the characters and the animals. Just last week, dear friends who are pastors in Galveston, were stunned when they received the call that their 41-year-old son had suddenly died from heart failure, while they were still reeling from their home being devastated from Hurricane Harvey, just months before. How can we have yuletide cheer when we are hurting so much?

Hope is the answer. God didn’t have to send His Son, but He did. Jesus didn’t have to take on human flesh, but He did. He didn't have to heal, serve and forgive, but He did. He didn’t have to humble Himself or accept rejection and torment or take on our sin, but He did! He did all this from birth to resurrection—so that, in our darkest and brightest times, we might have hope, so that we might experience peace, so that we might know His love, His grace and His joy.

Don’t give up, dear ones, who are hurting. You may not want to sing about decked halls or jingling bells, but there is greater news worth singing about. Don’t let your sorrow steal you away from Him who brings tidings of comfort and joy. The same little Lord Jesus away in the manger is the mighty King Jesus and Savior who came to give you abundant life. (John 10:10).

This pain won’t last forever if our hope is in the ONE who holds our todays and tomorrows. May we remember the angel's words on the night when Christ was born. “Fear not for I bring you GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY which shall be for all people." Luke 2:10. During this beautiful time of the year…we can still sing the words “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, let NOTHING you dismay, remember Christ, our Savior, was born on Christmas Day, Oh tidings of comfort and joy!”

If we are among those who are on the side of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", maybe it's time for us to to add some of that cheer to those around us who could use a smile, a hug, a warm embrace of Jesus in the flesh -- Jesus as Emmanuel -- God with us -- God in us -- reaching out and loving others -- to help bring them GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.