When is the last time you found yourself filled with awe and wonder by something that was truly amazing? Christmas is often called the most wonderful time of the year—a beautiful time when people are overflowing with joy, peace, and love. A time filled with magic and miracles. But why do so many of us find our holiday season instead filled with worry, anxiety, and a whole range of other emotions threatening to prevent us from experiencing the goodness this season supposedly promises?
I’ve been there. Although I grew up loving the Christmas season, and still do, I’ve had some Christmases over the last several years that have been harder than others. The Christmas after losing my dad, a truly great and God-honoring man, was especially tough. I remember telling my husband on our way home from Christmas celebrations how relieved I was that Christmas was over, which is not like me at all. Then the next couple of Christmases, I spent much of my time wishing we had a little one to dress in those cute holiday outfits and take an obscene number of pictures of—all while wondering if we’d ever become parents. Those years were hard, but despite the tears, God helped me realize that He was still working in miraculous ways. And no matter what you’re going through this Christmas season, God can help you see the good, the blessings, and the miracles, too.
This will be my older daughter's second Christmas. Last year, she wasn't very interested in what the holiday had to offer unless it was something she could get her drool-filled grin all over. This year, however, has been a different story. She can't help but ooh and ahh over the bright lights and beautiful decor. She dances blissfully as we play the Christmas music we grew up listening to—seriously, she has some hilariously adorable moves. And she gets so excited for an opportunity to put a smile on someone else's face during all the hustle and bustle by showing off her newly acquired pearly whites and waving her chubby toddler hand. She is full of joy, and it's almost as if she sees nearly everything as a sequence of big and little miracles. And you know what? I think she's onto something.
There are miracles all around us. The fact that we are here on this earth is a miracle in itself! Having food and water to enjoy, as well as give us energy so we can go about our day, is a miracle. Or what about the ability to see Christmas lights with our eyes or hear a group of carolers with our ears? Both miracles. It's also a miracle when we have people in our lives whom we can count on—people who love and care about us.
If you're still having a hard time with this idea of miracles, remember the whole reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place: A baby was born and placed in a manger. He would be the Savior of the world, allowing you and me to be close to God forever. An incredible miracle. It's also a miracle that we have the opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and experience His love, forgiveness, and peace on a daily basis. All of this is possible because, as undeserving as we may be, Jesus came for us, died for us, and miraculously rose from the dead!
With the hurt and negativity in the world, it's no surprise that our minds and hearts can easily become clouded from seeing the good that exists. However, the reality is that we are surrounded by truly good, awe-inspiring miracles each and every day. Let’s not let the bad overtake the good anymore. Let’s choose to see, embrace, and experience God’s goodness and His miracles this Christmas season and beyond.
