Dear Friends,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christmas is almost upon us and our year is drawing to a close. We are now surrounded by the beautiful decorations of the yuletide season, along with the stress \u2013 the frantic shopping, the wrapping, the baking and cooking, the social gatherings, and all the exhausting obligations we place on ourselves. Most of us really just want to have some hot cocoa quietly by the fire with our families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, for many families and individuals, there isn’t money for frantic shopping. We’ve all felt the pinch at the grocery store and the gas pump with inflation. Maybe health concerns have dampened celebration. Often, families are remembering their sons and daughters stationed overseas far from hearth and home. Maybe a parent is picking up an extra shift on Christmas morning to make ends meet and can’t watch their kids gleefully unwrap that one special gift. Sometimes the happiness of Christmas can seem out of reach or even trivial compared to the necessities of day-to-day survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amid challenges, it can be hard to realize that Christmas means more than just presents under the tree, especially when that’s what is right in front of us. We can’t see the forest through the Christmas trees. The true meaning of Christmas is the gift of love, hope, and peace. It can’t be purchased or wrapped, and it never needs to go on sale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the original promise of Christmas\u2026a gift to the entire world, given without obligation or expectations, regardless of our means or situation. We all need the hope and peace found in the Christmas Story. That promise is restored every year as we are reminded of the best gift ever given \u2013 God’s unconditional love for us. No fancy ribbons or beautiful decorations were needed. Just a baby in a manger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a chance to spend time with those you love. Reflecting the gift of Christmas is the very best present we can give to one another, on Christmas day and every other day as well. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Friends, Christmas is almost upon us and our year is drawing to a close. We are now surrounded by the beautiful decorations of the yuletide season, along with the stress \u2013 the frantic shopping, the wrapping, the baking and cooking, the social gatherings, and all the exhausting obligations we place on ourselves. Most of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":18022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[243],"tags":[293],"class_list":["post-18020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions-op-eds","tag-christmas"],"yoast_head":"\n