Mindy’s Place

Hope for the Holidays at The Family Room
Hope for the Holidays
Published by Erik Sheffer December 13th, 2006 in Holiday Season

The holidays for some are the highlight of the year. They often are for me. However for others they can be just the opposite. Holidays simply remind them once again of their trial or loss.

I know nothing of loss. Trials are foreign to me. The closest I have gotten to serious tribulations is vicariously through others or from reading books on the topic.

But I do know that hope is vital. And what you hope in this Christmas is of utmost importance. This season reminds us to hope.

“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ our Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Christ Jesus our Lord was born to die for our sins. He is our suffering Savior. Our rock. Our refuge. And because of his life, death, and resurrection, hope in Him will never disappoint us.

Some suggestions for those who are hip-hip-hooray for the Holidays:

Pray as a family for those who are suffering, needy, or going through trials

Serve as a family those who are suffering, needy, or going through trials

Be grateful for all that God has given you

And for those who find themselves amidst a trial, loss, or simply fighting for joy this holiday season, let me point you to a quote by Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni is a quadriplegic, as well as a profound and gifted speaker and writer.

Joni says, “I sure hope I can bring this wheelchair to heaven. Now, I know that’s not theologically correct. But I hope to bring it and put it in a little corner of heaven, and then in my new, perfect, glorified body, standing on grateful, glorified legs, I’ll stand next to my Savior, holding his nail-pierced hands. I’ll say, “Thank you, Jesus,” and he will know that I mean it, because he knows me. He’ll recognize me from the fellowship we’re now sharing in his sufferings. And I will say, “Jesus, do you see that wheelchair? You were right when you said that in this world we would have trouble, because that thing was a lot of trouble. But the weaker I was in that thing, the harder I leaned on you. And the harder I leaned on you, the stronger I discovered you to be. It would have never happened had you not given me the bruising of the blessing of that wheelchair.”

May our hope this Christmas season be rooted in our Savior.