Christmas-Wonderful and Woeful--Soul H2O

“a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance”
Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV

This week was jam packed with Christmas events. I decorated the house with my step-daughter and went to my friend Kevin Pauls’ “Spirit of Christmas” Musical event with my son and his girlfriend. It was so much fun! The night was filled with great laughter.

WONDERFUL AND WOEFUL Christmas

In stark contrast I attended our church’s Comfort Service. It was started to help those who have experienced great loss in their grieving. Today I heard my friends share the heart-wrenching story of how their 15 year old daughter is spending Christmas in heaven this year with her older sister. They spoke in brokenness but with such confidence in a God who is there, especially when it hurts and life doesn’t make sense. This week was a reminder of how WONDERFUL AND WOEFUL Christmas can be.

The writer of Ecclesiastes was so wise to understand that people are all going to be in different stages of life at different times. When one is weeping another is laughing, when one is dancing another is mourning. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecc 3:1 NIV). We must allow people to embrace the season they are in and live out Romans 12:15 that says we are to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

As Christians we are to walk alongside our brothers and sisters. This Christmas, be with friends in the WONDERFUL AND WOEFUL. Rejoicing or mourning, whatever THEIR season, so you can help them “walk through” in the confidence that God loves them, He’s with them and He’s proud of them, because they’re getting that from you!

Prayer

Father…I thank-you for being with me every season of life that I face. Help me to recognize what season I’m in and the seasons of others. Let us all be a comfort to each other and spur one another on to live life in the confidence of Your love. In Jesus Name…Amen!