Christmas in my older age has become a little bit tricky. Between living states or countries away from the familial unit and being poor, my Christmases have been unpredictable at best. My first two Christmases after college were spent in Delhi, India. I cannot tell you how much you miss family when you are stationed far away and in a country that is still discovering how to celebrate Christmas. But what I gained during my time in India is the joy of truly celebrating Christmas through the story of Jesus' birth. My two Christmases spent in India were not filled with many gifts, or lights, busy malls, or caroling. Instead it was replaced with prayers for opportunity to share about the lowly birth of a King, his life of perfection, and his blood spilled for forgiveness. The Christmas season became a season of sharing and trying to accurately live out to a people what Jesus is all about.
For this reason, my first Christmas home from afar was kind of a let down. Don't get me wrong, it was AMAZING to be with the family again, but I really felt like we had missed the mark. I remember longing for India and the joy of the season. Somehow Christmas since returning from India has been lacking. Which is because I haven't been as intentional in America to share His story as I was for those two years.
But this year, I was blessed with a gift. I had the opportunity to travel to India again this Christmas season and visit a few girls homes. These girl all come from places of injustice (most trafficking) where the powerful have preyed on the vulnerable. Because of God's grace however, they were rescued not only from physically harm, but have been rescued from death to life because of the birth of King. I have never experienced such tangible redemption in my entire life- to have physcially seen the brothels where they were born and to see them set apart and placed in a place of dignity, safety, and restoration. Beutiful incarnational redemption was in the eyes of these girls. All because of a birth.
On our last day with these girls, I got to actually be one of the many judges for their Christmas program. I just about died with the amount of cuteness between their dancing, singing, and choreography. The live nativity scene and song they choreographed was probably the best in the world and brought my heart so much joy. Immediately following the program the girls got their hearts desire- McDonald's was delivered. Somewhere between the Christmas carols playing in the background, and the joy of sharing a meal with these girls, and witnessing their performances, I was all the sudden overcome with emotion and tears. As I was surrounded by 35 tangible stories of redemption, all because of a King, I found myself begging God in that moment to not let me forget this memory. I begged him to keep it etched on my mind forever and that I would remember this exact feeling when I returned home to celebrate Christmas. I kept thinking... This is Christmas. This is why we celebrate. I didn't want the moment to end.
I pray that each Christmas as I get older, that Christmas is always culmination of celebration because of the story of Christ that I have been sharing all year long. That many new people will be redeemed because God sent his son in flesh to dwell among his people to rescue them. Christmas should be a season of rejoicing with the redeemed.
Merry Christmas everyone. I pray you find joy in the fact that you are redeemed and given new life in Christ because of this baby boy's birth, death, and resurrection.
For this reason, my first Christmas home from afar was kind of a let down. Don't get me wrong, it was AMAZING to be with the family again, but I really felt like we had missed the mark. I remember longing for India and the joy of the season. Somehow Christmas since returning from India has been lacking. Which is because I haven't been as intentional in America to share His story as I was for those two years.
But this year, I was blessed with a gift. I had the opportunity to travel to India again this Christmas season and visit a few girls homes. These girl all come from places of injustice (most trafficking) where the powerful have preyed on the vulnerable. Because of God's grace however, they were rescued not only from physically harm, but have been rescued from death to life because of the birth of King. I have never experienced such tangible redemption in my entire life- to have physcially seen the brothels where they were born and to see them set apart and placed in a place of dignity, safety, and restoration. Beutiful incarnational redemption was in the eyes of these girls. All because of a birth.
On our last day with these girls, I got to actually be one of the many judges for their Christmas program. I just about died with the amount of cuteness between their dancing, singing, and choreography. The live nativity scene and song they choreographed was probably the best in the world and brought my heart so much joy. Immediately following the program the girls got their hearts desire- McDonald's was delivered. Somewhere between the Christmas carols playing in the background, and the joy of sharing a meal with these girls, and witnessing their performances, I was all the sudden overcome with emotion and tears. As I was surrounded by 35 tangible stories of redemption, all because of a King, I found myself begging God in that moment to not let me forget this memory. I begged him to keep it etched on my mind forever and that I would remember this exact feeling when I returned home to celebrate Christmas. I kept thinking... This is Christmas. This is why we celebrate. I didn't want the moment to end.I pray that each Christmas as I get older, that Christmas is always culmination of celebration because of the story of Christ that I have been sharing all year long. That many new people will be redeemed because God sent his son in flesh to dwell among his people to rescue them. Christmas should be a season of rejoicing with the redeemed.
Merry Christmas everyone. I pray you find joy in the fact that you are redeemed and given new life in Christ because of this baby boy's birth, death, and resurrection.
1 comment:
thank you for sharing these lessons.
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