By Sarah Vessely
Do you have a favorite holiday or a favorite tradition your family does each year around the holidays?
Growing up, traditions were so important to my family (and they still are today). One of these ongoing traditions is baking sugar cookies on Christmas Eve. An important lesson my parents taught my siblings and me when we were younger was: Even though you will grow up, you don’t have to outgrow traditions or family. That is why we still bake sugar cookies each year. We also go to my Nana and Papa’s house to bake cookies with our extended family as well.
As Christmastime came around this year, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities of Jesus and baking cookies. I know this sounds crazy. Trust me, and keep reading to find out what I mean.
Every year, people go to the store with a list, based on what cookie(s) they want to bake. After they pick out the ingredients, they go home, begin to bake, clean up messes as they go, and make their own creation. This is similar to how Jesus is with each of us.
Jesus Christ picks you from all the options there are (John 15:16). Jesus gives you different ingredients that He knows are best. Jesus helps you when there are messes. Finally, Jesus makes you His own creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). What a blessing that is; right?
Jesus chose you to be His.
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“Having a foundation while we navigate life in different stages helps us stay on the path Jesus wants us to follow.”
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Love + Light in a Crazy World
This world we live in today can be crazy, and it changes at a rapid pace. One thing in the world and in our lives that does not change is Jesus and His love for us. This is so important for us to remember, because we see Jesus working in people’s lives all around us.
It can be so easy to look at your neighbors and point out everything they have that you don’t, but if we all do that, we’d have fingers pointing back at us. Within this world, we need to be confident in who we are and who Jesus says we are. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world.”
How can we apply that to our own individual lives?
In whatever you do in life — whether jobs, parenting, friendships, or relationships — be the light of the world. Love everyone, pray for everyone (including yourself), give to others, forgive others (and yourself), and do your best to live out each day as the best version of yourself. Happiness is contagious. Spread it everywhere you go. Whatever you are called to do as a career, take these five actions wherever you go in life.
These actions can also serve as a foundation for where you currently are in your life even as they will help as you become older in life and enter new milestones and phases — such as having older kids, becoming grandparents, or retiring.
Having a foundation while we navigate life in different stages helps us stay on the path Jesus wants us to follow. When you begin to live your life with this foundation, you will see firsthand how Jesus is with you and makes you His own creation.
Grounded + Rooted
Why should we take this truth with us through life?
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“You are never too late to begin something.”
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As everything in life changes so fast, it is important that we stay grounded in Christ. Things can be taken away from us any second of any day, which is a major reason why it is so important to stay rooted in Jesus. When these changes happen in life, they will certainly not be easy just because you follow Jesus. They will still be just as difficult, but you won’t have to carry it all by yourself.
The blessings we have today could be gone tomorrow, and once that reality begins to set in, you will begin to see why it is so important to have Jesus by your side.
I recently saw a video of a couple who had been married for 60 years getting baptized together, and I teared up as I watched the peace wash over them as they came out of the water — clean, pure, and together. This taught me an important lesson: You are never too late to begin something.
Now, I don’t know the background of this couple, or of your life. I do know one thing. Jesus is always ready to welcome you. You can begin with a simple prayer or attending a church service. Get ready to see how Jesus transforms your life. Begin your own traditions and make your own memories today.
Remember this Christmas season that Jesus loves you. Happy holidays!
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Sarah Vessely is an 18-year-old writer from Valparaiso, Indiana, and the author of the book “Jesus, It’s You.”
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