THE CHRISTMAS QUESTION
It was a simple question. An obvious one actually. As I gave my husband one of the Christmas cookies I had just baked, he looked up, innocently, and asked “ Are you having fun?”. The look I gave him made him burst out loud laughing, and I don’t mean the kind of ho, ho, ho, that Santa makes. Most genuine bakers LOVE the holidays because we get to bake our favorite cookies…Christmas. The kitchen is scattered with brown sugar, flour, chocolate chips, white chocolate bars, and of course pecans and walnuts. We get up early to start the assembly of delicious, yummy cookies. With my apron covered with all the joys of baking, I found myself asking the very question my hubby asked, “ Am I having fun?” This year I have to admit….not so much. I can feel that extra year older, the double shifts I’m working, the extra people on my list, the time crunch to get out the cookies for my family back east…before Christmas is over…and the extra cost this year. With still more cookies to bake, I reflect. Yes, all of those reasons are true. But, it wasn’t the only reason. I’m sad. This Christmas season my heart cries for some of my friends who lost their spouse, some fighting through their chemo, missing my sissy, brother, cousins and wishing we could all be together, to be with friends in Calif…wishing I had more money to help others…knowing my bestie will be moving…How about you? Do you find the holiday season isn’t really your favorite time of year? You may be missing your family, struggling to find money to give Christmas gifts, or find yourself alone…again. Jesus. Yes. THAT is the real question. Because, isn’t HE the reason for Christmas? God KNOWS what our hearts really need…what will give us true purpose, fulfillment, our eternal future….Jesus brings JOY, PEACE, LOVE, but more importantly, the only way for a relationship with the true God. And with that reminder, I smiled, and went back to baking…maybe not having as much fun as some years, but knowing that Jesus is my true JOY, my reason for the season….how about you? Ready to accept Jesus?…..