When Christmas Isn't Merry
Not everyone will enjoy Christmas this year. Many families will find the holidays less than happy and Christmas less than merry.
Instead of singing "Joy to the World," one friend of mine will spend this month finalizing a divorce while another is moving out, separating from their spouse.
For far too many households, December 25th will be a day of hardship, sickness, debt, loss, and bills. While Christmas lights shine on the outsdie of the house, darkness will fill the rooms inside.
Hearts are heavy, lives engulfed by lonliness.
What hope can these families find? What help can the church provide?
It's easy to talk about God sending the light of the world while neglecting to be the light to the world. It's easy to be so focused on our families that we are blind to the family next door. It's easy to spend all of our money on gifts for those we know that we have nothing left to give to a stranger in need. It's easy to assume that everyone is filled with joy and surrounded by loved ones, simply because it's Christmas.
Oh, that our eyes would be open to the brokenhearted!
There are many ways your family can reach out to the hurting families this Christmas:
Take time to ask your friends, church members, co-workers, and neighbors how they are doing, how their family is doing, and how you can pray for them.
Lead your family to pray for other families that you believe need your prayer.
Bring meals or Christmas presents to someone in need.
Visit those spending Christmas in the hospital.
Invite someone to your home for a Christmas meal who would otherwise be alone.
Before we can see this weary world rejoice, we must love the weary and give them reason to rejoice.
Jonathan Williams is the founder of Gospel Family Ministries and the Senior Pastor of Wilcrest Baptist Church, a multi-ethnic church of 44 nations located in Houston, TX. He and his wife are blessed with three wonderful children.
