I’m sitting here, letting Christmas music flow through the house, and sipping my hot tea, remembering what Christmas mornings were like as a child.  We’d jump from our beds, not needing an alarm clock, and rushing down the stairs, we’d find lots of gifts under the tree, brightly wrapped in greens, reds, golds, and blues.  Mommy and daddy would stumble down the stairs, wiping their eyes and hoping they could get some more “shut-eye” in the afternoon.  After all, they loved their mid-night snack of cookies and milk their excited children had left for Santa.

This year, there’s another reality that the world was not anticipating and was ill-prepared for.  It’s name is COVID19, not Santa Claus.  I wonder how many families will have an empty chair for Christmas dinner, how many children won’t run downstairs to their trees, how many wives and husbands will wake up to an empty side of the bed, and how many elderly persons did not get to say good-bye to their families.  How many lives have been changed forever because we weren’t prepared?

But in considering all my blessings, God still sends His beloved Son to us every year so that we will know, even in our trials, Jesus Christ comes so that we might have an abundant life filled with hope, light, peace, joy, and love.  It’s His light shining in my heart that carries me and the world through this very sad time.  Christmas may never be the same for any of us, but Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, will always be with us.  Even when we think we are bigger than God, He continues to quietly speak to our hearts.

If you get a chance, visit You-Tube for the Piano Guy’s rendition of “Angels We Have Heard on High” and their re-enactment of the Nativity story as a backdrop.  It truly made every tear I’ve cried this season worth more than gold.  The angels will sing over the plains, and the mountains will echo their joyous strains.  The shepherds will shout their joyous tidings in return.  All will come to the Holy city to see a babe wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.  Three kings from afar will bring gifts, and shepherds from the countryside will bend their knees to Christ the Lord, the newborn King.  Mary and Joseph will be in awe of the hosts of angels that come down from Heaven to sing, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

We all have been affected by this disease, some more harshly than others.  Take heart as the shepherds did on that night so long ago.  Jesus said, “Be not afraid, for I am with you.”  For those who do not know Him, open your hearts and He will light your paths.  For those who do know Him, pray for the world to reach out to touch His robe.  Then, we will all be healed.  Reach out in Christian love so the world can walk in His light.  Raise your voices and sing, “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

Anna Hartt