From “Happy Holidays” to “Merry Christmas,” “Feliz Navidad” to “Happy Hanukah,” we are celebrating the Savior of the World! While some have turned the birth of Christ into a political issue, Christians maintain a life of surrender despite the season. Whoever believes gets to live out His reality and is not limited to time, space, and circumstances. There is nothing and no one else on Earth that guarantees consistency like Jesus does. He is the only constant.
The past week, I was grieving. December has always been a difficult month for me and my family. Twenty-one years ago, my father passed away. I was a little girl and I experienced a lifetime of loss without him in my life for all the important things. I thought about how I never learned to ride a bicycle (and how I still do not know). When other kids’ parents would pick them up from school or the bus-stop, how nobody was really awaiting me at home. He was not there to meet my fiancé and give me away on my wedding day. However, when I think of the years I did get to have with him, they were only the best memories. For the 8 years I got to have my dad in my life, all I knew is that he existed to bless.
My memories of him getting my brother and I ready for school, ironing our uniforms, packing our lunches, staying up late with us to help us finish up our last-minute school projects. He would put cute labels and covers on all our text and notebooks, take us out to eat as a family, and plan adventure park trips or beach trips with our extended families and friends every so often that it was just a way of life. He was a family man and family always came first. As a little girl, I somehow understood that my dad was my mom’s number one fan. They were definitely not the most romantic couple, as PDA was awkward for them, but as their kids, we always knew that they were in love. So when this picture-perfect family suddenly comes to a halt, you just tend to wonder why.
The sad truth is that this world is a broken one, an inadequate one. We try to make the best of what we get. His grace definitely helps achieve this but it can be a difficult journey. The reality is that only Christ is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever! A friend of mine recently asked me about consistency. I thought through her question – how to stay constant? After thinking about this question, I realized that it is quite impossible. Sure, we can try but we could never guarantee constancy. This is why the bible says to let your yes be yes and no be no, because we could never make a promise and not come through. Our capabilities are limited, whereas when God makes a promise, it simply IS what it is.
There is comfort in knowing that Jesus was not only born on Christmas day many moons ago and died on a Friday. We know that He was resurrected so that He could live in us through the Holy Spirit! He is with us, 365 days a year so that our promises would be fulfilled. The past week, as I reflected on the loss of my father, my grandparents, the several people that passed away in 2020 alone, really made me think a lot more about the concept of death. One moment they are there and the next gone, leaving us with nothing but memories and heartache. In the blink of an eye, people can change, promises can break, and relationships can go awry. Christ is constant, however. We can freely put our faith in Jesus because He will never let us down! He is the best friend that never cancels plans with us, He never gets tired of us, bored or embarrassed of us, He will never let go of us. He is faithful to us in EVERY season.
The holidays are an especially difficult time for those who are grieving their loved ones. While it is a season to enjoy time with family and friends, let us also share this joy with those who are struggling. They may have had a lonely year, a rough time with their work situation, recovering from Covid-19, grieving their beloved, or just on a struggle-bus of some sort. Without sounding too cliché, let me conclude by reminded us of the reason for the season – Jesus.
Jesus at the center of it all
From beginning to the end
It has always been
It has always been you, Jesus
Nothing else matters.
Nothing in this world will do
Jesus, you are the center
Everything in this world
Revolves around you
Jesus be the center of my life
From beginning to the end
From my heart to the heavens
Jesus, be the center
Nothing else matters
Jesus, you are the center
Everything else revolves around you