Four years ago, by this time I was at home with my parents and my little brother. Our Christmas Eve consisted of Mum, Dad, my brother and I, and that's how it was every year since we were born.
My brother came home from his institution to spend Christmas Eve. We were taking goofy picture in my room. I remember I was so happy that he wanted to take photos with me, because normally he hated the camera. I felt like it was our last Christmas together, because he was sick. That time Christmas was something that made me happy, something that brought us all together, something that was really in the spirit of Christmas, as society has made it to be, be happy, eat a lot of food, get a lot of presents. These last few years has not been much fun or joyful for me around Christmas time. I have not since my brother died (2011), spent Christmas with my parents as we used to. They do not want to spend it with me. I then became this Christmas refugee; I need to find a new place every year to spend Christmas. This year I have been thinking a lot about what is Christmas. It is by society made to be like this: Put you facade on, be happy and joyful, which is in its meaning pretty well, but then again it puts a pressure on everyone. There are so many people feeling wrong, because they are not in the real “Christmas mood”, they are not feeling happy, they are alone or they have lost someone they loved. Christmas should not be about people putting on facades, and pretending to be happy, it should be a time where we give to those who need it, visit people that need love and company, bring out Jesus to everybody. That is what my main purpose for Christmas has become and will be forwardly; to bring Jesus to the people who needs Him. My parents do not acknowledge me as their daughter. They do not want to spend Christmas time, or any other time, with me whatsoever. I could stay sad, dig a hole for myself, and not spend Christmas ever. I could also chose to look at it another way: This is the season of the year that is a perfect time to bring Jesus’ love to people and do something good for others not only to myself, and to remember it is perfectly okay for me not to like Christmas or be happy about it in the way society made it to be. This is what I will continue to remember in the future. Being something to someone also makes me forget about my own situation and focus more on Jesus and other people. I am SO thankful for all the invitations I have gotten to spend Christmas this year, and all the past 3 years too. It really makes me appreciate my network and my family in Christ. Unfortunately many people do not have that kind of network and end up spending Christmas alone, that really breaks my heart because people should never spend Christmas alone, nobody! So if you’re like me, feeling sad, or lonely and not in the “Christmas mood”, then you’re not alone, you shouldn’t feel wrong either, because Christmas is actually about Jesus, He came here to give our lives meaning, and bring hope, that is what we should focus on and that’s a pretty good reason to be happy. Christmas is not all about the food, presents, and family, because some don’t have all that. Those of you that do have all this, I am happy for you. You are truly blessed and I encourage you to invite people who need a place to stay into your home this Christmas, and bring them the good News. We all have Jesus or can have Him in our lives, and that is what matters! Merry Christmas, and a happy new year. Hope you all have a Christmas filled with love. Lord I pray for those who are alone, feeling depressed and sad, who lost someone they loved, and those who are spending Christmas alone, please meet them with your peace, fill them with hope and with your love. I also pray that we who have so much, will give some who don't have that much and that we are a light where we go. Amen Xx Amelie.
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AuthorAmelie Maria Pedersen / Archives
October 2016
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