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Christmas is one week away! That phrase can bring a mix of emotions for many of us. Some of us look forward to Christmas, the twinkling lights echo our sparkling personalities. Some of us are excited to see a baby’s first Christmas or the joy when a child sits on Santa’s lap for that magical picture. Some of us feel hurried and rushed as we are trying to do everything and start to see the countdown dwindle and we worry we won’t get it all done. Some of us may feel lost and alone, the holidays are our first without a loved one or we continue to miss the holidays of the past where we were surrounded by family and friends. There are even some who are a mix of all of these and more.
A few years ago, my home church sang an advent song “We’re Not That Far from Bethlehem.” It was originally released by Point of Grace but the first time I heard it was in choir practice. The words and the tune seem to repeat in my head as I look forward to Christmas day.
We're not that far from Bethlehem
Where all our hope and joy began
For in our arms we'll cherish him
We're not that far from Bethlehem
We’re not that far from Christmas, but we’re also not that far from the reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus. I love the reminder that in the birth of Jesus our hope and our joy began and we have been cherishing that child since that day. Celebrating the birth foretold for years that in Bethlehem a child would be born who would forever change the world. A child who would forever change us and continues to change us as we grow in faith.
No matter what happens this week, whether we finish all our tasks or the perfect picture just doesn’t seem to happen, we still celebrate that we are not that far from Bethlehem. We celebrate that our Christmases may change and we may have seasons where we grieve and seasons where we sparkle. We still celebrate because our hope and joy continue to grow in our hearts as we let the love of Christ shine in us. So, on Christmas Eve, whether you are in the sanctuary, at home, or even visiting loved ones, remember to see the light of Christ shine and let it fill your heart, let it fill your very being as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the hope and joy that he brought for the world.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Megan
Rev. Megan Berkebile
Director of Children’s Ministry - St John’s Ivyland UMC
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