Alone for Christmas

We all have heard that Christmas is a time for families.  What about those of us that don’t have family to be with on Christmas?  What are we supposed to do? 

Some of us are blessed with friends that make certain that we are not alone, making sure that we are invited to some sort of gathering so that we are not left to our own devices.  What about those of us who slip through the holiday cracks?

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year.  Well that is not entirely true, there was a time when I was so deeply depressed that I didn’t want to deal with Christmas or the Holidays and just slept through them.  On Christmas I would get up long enough for the kids to open their presents and I went back to bed to hibernate.  I just couldn’t (or wouldn’t) deal with the Day, not because of what the Day was but more of what “I” wasn’t.

Can you imagine just sleeping though a day because you didn’t want to face your own inadequacies?  How many folks feel that way?  How many can’t face Christmas alone?  How many need to know that the Day, that represents God’s Love for us, that we are worth loving?

Now that I have come to know Christ as more than just a reason to have a day of presents and celebration, but as my Lord and Savior, Christmas means a lot more to me. 

Not only do I have the desire to spend it with loved ones, I want to spend it with Jesus, and I want to spend the morning in church praising and worshiping God (in His house). 

I know that I can do all that in my home, but I want to leave the comfort of my house and make some kind of effort to be around other believers and those seeking His presence in a loving atmosphere full of worship.  I want to be in the Glory of God, soaking up His Love on the most precious of days.  That thought alone has me giddy as a school girl jumping around excited for Christmas.

This morning as I was desperately looking on the internet to find a church service on Christmas Day, I felt in my spirit, “How many people desperately need to be with Me on this Day and don’t know of a place to go to celebrate My Love?  How many people are alone or homeless on this day and need My Church, the Body of Christ to love on them?”

I sat there crying as the images of the sad, lonely and forgotten flooded my mind.  The tears were not for me but for those faces that God put on my heart.  Why aren’t there more church services on Christmas Eve and on Christmas? 

I understand everyone wants to be with their families, I do too.  I also know that a lot of work and effort goes into putting on church.  However we, as children of the God Most High we are put on this earth to share His Love with our fellow man, why aren’t we doing it on the Day that represents His greatest gift to us? 

It doesn’t have to be an over done event that takes months of planning.  Even if the church doors were open for a couple hours in the morning to those who have no family, no friends, no parties and possibly no love in their everyday lives that need the comfort of God, wouldn’t that be worth it? 

Nothing fancy, just reading of the word retelling the birth of Christ, Sing some Christmas Carols, have some praise and worship of our Father, Son & Holy Spirit can feed the spirit.  Maybe even the partaking of the Holy Communion. 

A day of dedication to God as we celebrate the Day dedicated for the birth of His Son.  Just the image of this alone has the tears streaming down my face.  I get the best kind of warm fuzzies when I think of how much I love God and how much He loves me!

If the church and its members wanted to step it up, they could have a potluck and feed those that came to the service.  Imagine the ministry that could be accomplished by just fellowshipping with your fellow man over a little food to feed the tummies? 

A lot can be said when you take time to break bread with strangers on a day that is meant for families.

No one should ever feel alone or unloved, especially on a love-filled day as Christmas.  The celebration of Christ is a wonderful time to show the world His love. 

I pray that you will do a little something to show some love to someone outside your immediate family circle.  After all we are all God’s children; His gift of Love is for all of us that accept it. 

That right there is Christmas to me.

Until Next Time, God Bless and Merry Christmas!