LInda Nielsen

1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David….
~ Luke 2:1-4
 
My entire life, my family has gotten together Christmas Day and my family has read the Christmas story as part of our meal, gifts and fellowship.  I have been blessed with great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles all with a strong faith in Jesus. That we all believed and that Jesus was part of each of our lives was never something that was questioned. Also getting together on December 25th was also never questioned – it just always happened.
 
As each generation passed away, and now we face a year of a pandemic with so few left in the generation before me… this tradition is gone for the first time.  For the first time, I won’t even see my parents during the month of December let alone, aunts, uncles and cousins (it just isn’t safe for my parents to make the short trip back from Mesa).
 
The blessing is that my brother and sister and their families will be able to join mine for a smaller Christmas gathering. God bless technology for allowing my parents to join us via Zoom, but it is not the same.
 
To help support myself that this is a joyous season, I have been leaning on preparing for the month of December and trying out some traditions of my Danish Ancestors. As I do this, I am reminded how my grandmother and great-grandmother would be smiling down at me for taking this on!
 
Yes, this season is about Jesus and what God has blessed us all with. No one can ever take that away from us!  I have witnessed these blessings from god through my own family.  But even with these blessings, creating Joy to overcome the losses of this upcoming season is not always easy.
 
Lord God, this coming Christmas with the cold weather comes the cold of not being able to partake in gatherings of family and friends that so help warm our hearts during this time of year. Bring new experiences to warm our hearts this year. Let us find joy in new opportunities and inspire us with creativity in the days ahead. In Jesus name I pray, Amen