Another First Christmas

By Chris Hemberry

“Christmas is a togethery sort of holiday. That’s my favorite kind.” – A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh

For some of us, this year is a first year where our “togetherness” is interrupted, where we set one less place at the Christmas dinner table, where one less stocking is hung with care. The burden of the loss of a loved one weighs heavy as the calendar reaches December. Any normalcy or “getting on with life” we thought we had accomplished gives way to a renewed sense of sorrow and hurt as we reflect on Christmases past.

Singing songs of joy and jubilee is hard for the brokenhearted. Surrounded by a cacophony of thanksgiving and cheer — unable to escape the merry atmosphere — the widow, the fatherless, and the owners of never-used cribs are left searching for the peace on earth heralded by that little drummer boy.

Philippians 4 instructs us to “always be full of joy in the Lord.” That directive does not sit easily at times. Thankfully, the balance of the chapter also promises that God’s peace will come and that He will draw near to us. Paul attributes this to what he calls “the secret of living in every situation” (NLT).

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. … Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. … I have learned the secret of living in every situation. … For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:6-13 NLT).

“Nothing is more true than the attributes of God.”

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Prayer Precedes Peace

Note the linear nature of this passage. God’s peace will come, but first, we must pray. Pray specifically. Pray intentionally. Pray not only for your needs but also prayers of thankfulness — that is, thank God for all He has done. These are prayers of gratitude. You may be surprised to learn that gratitude is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness.” Gratitude is not just a feeling or disposition. It is active! It is a readiness and, for the believer, a readiness to keep serving the Lord’s will.

Imagine your mind resides inside a snow globe. On a shelf, the snow is settled, and the glass is clear. When shaken, things get foggy. When life shakes us, we are surrounded by the debris of hurt and pain, unable to see what is right, what is pure, what is true.

“It is OK to fake it until you make it. Keep offering thanks, and keep proclaiming the deeds and attributes of God.”

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Nothing is more true than the attributes of God. Prayers of gratitude right us. They bring us into focus. The mantra of thanks for all God has done testifies to our minds and hearts. Prayers settle the snow globe of our mind. This is the experienced peace promised above. It is a peace that passes understanding, a peace that allows us to see once again what is true. This peace and clarity allow us to “keep putting into practice” what we have seen in the life of Jesus. Then God Himself draws near and strengthens us so that we might keep going, on mission for the kingdom.

Pray Gratitude

If this Christmas is a first Christmas for you, pray gratitude. It is OK to fake it until you make it. Keep offering thanks, and keep proclaiming the deeds and attributes of God. In this, the Holy Spirit will settle the snow globe of your mind, so that you might then be able to focus on what is true and good. That is when the Father draws near, giving the strength to carry on.

Here is the best part. Remember that first line about being joyful always? This is where it comes full circle. God, because it delights Him, does not just give us strength to carry on, He gives us joy — joy unspeakable. With all due respect to peace, I submit that during broken-heartedness, the joy of the Lord more amazingly passes understanding.

“O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”
– “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

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