Month: December 2025

Light Wins

Posted on by Wendy
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

As I write this, Christmas is getting close, only a week away. I have always loved this time of year, the music, the food, the gifts, the parties, and of course, the lights. When I was little, my Mama would always drive us around to see the Christmas lights in various neighborhoods in our little town. When I grew up and had my own kiddos, we tried to find a new venue each year to enjoy the Christmas lights.

What is it about humanity that is drawn to light?

For many people, Christmas is a somber time. For people who are dealing with loss of any kind, it can be especially difficult to watch the world rejoice when their own world is shrouded in the darkness of grief.

This Sunday, December 21st, we will experience the Winter Solstice, here in the Northern Hemisphere. It will be the longest night of the year, specifically, our part of the earth will have more hours of darkness than light. I am always in awe that this night just happens to occur right before Christmas, right before we celebrate the birth of the light of mankind.  Was it perhaps by design?

When God put the stars in the sky, He had a plan for the seasons. He allowed darkness to inch its way a little bit at the time, but there was a point when He commanded it to retreat. Darkness does not win, not in Creation and not in those who belong to Christ. The same God who created the earth and the stars, created us and He has a plan for each one of us too.

After this Sunday, we will gain a little light everyday. It will be a very gradual process, but even slow progress is still progress. Eventually, the darkness and light will even out until finally, we will have more light that darkness and so it is for those who happen to be struggling to celebrate this season, struggling to find some light when all seems dark.

If we look to Creation, God reminds us that although it may be dark, the light is coming. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

God is in the Details

Posted on by Wendy
The same God who makes the sun rise and set is involved in the tiniest details in the lives of His children.

 

There is a church in my town that serves a free lunch to the community on Tuesdays. I like to volunteer there when I can. Working with other Christians to serve those in need, fills my soul in the same way it fills the bellies of those who come to eat. I always feel the presence of Jesus there and I have earnestly searched for His presence over the past year.

A few weeks ago, we were asked to bring in any warm items we might have, to donate, especially blankets and coats.

I went home and searched my closets. Many years ago, someone gave me a wearable blanket as a Christmas gift. I never really used it and I packed it away with my other winter items, like gloves and hats. It rarely gets very cold for long here in the deep south, so my winter items typically stay packed away in a plastic box for most of the year. I forgot about the wearable blanket and when we downsized and moved, I ended up putting it at the bottom of a cedar chest.

I have no idea why I kept it, when I donated so many other things, but I dug it out and washed it. It was in great condition because it had  rarely been used. I took it in to add to the pile of other donations.

This week was the week that the donations were to be given out. When one of the leaders asked if I would be willing to help hand them out, I hesitated. The need was great and we were only allowed to let each person take one item. I’m a bit of a softie by nature; I didn’t really think I was the best person for the task, but he was insistent, so I reluctantly agreed.

After helping sort the items in the back with another volunteer, we headed out with our stack of donations.  A third volunteer joined us. There were a lot of items, but they went fast. Everyone was orderly and so very thankful.

There was an elderly lady towards the end of the line and she chose a child’s blanket to wrap around her shoulders. She said she got chilly at her house. I knew that the item I donated was still in the back and I asked her if she would wait a moment. I went and got it and put it on her. Her face lit up with delight as she hugged me tightly. Her joy was contagious and I found myself fighting back tears.

Such a tiny gift on my part had meant so much.

As I reflected later on that day, I was in awe as always, at God’s hands in the tiniest of details of my life, from the fact that I kept the wearable blanket for no good reason to the moment that I was asked to help distribute donations which was totally out of my comfort zone, He had a plan to bless me.

A donated blanket and the joyous smile of a stranger reminded me that God is always working even in the tiniest of details. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

The Thrill of Hope

Posted on by Wendy
The weary world rejoices!

 

I will happily admit that I love a Hallmark Christmas movie and I must not be alone, because every streaming service now has their own version of them. While I am fully aware that they are all fairly predictable. They typically take place in a small town that looks like a  Christmas snow globe. Neighbors are kind to one another. Families love each other and if their is some kind of rift, it all gets solved before the end of the movie. They always live happily ever after.

Sigh. What’s not to love?

Last Sunday at church, we lit the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope. There are a lot of hopes this time of year. Children hope for gifts from Santa. Parents hope to create perfect Christmas memories. Many families hope for some kind of peace and reconciliation among their people.

Humanity itself, hopes for a happily ever after and we tend to run after it in all the wrong places; that’s where the promise of Advent shines.

When Jesus entered our world, true hope was born, not the kind that we can hold temporarily in our hands, but hope for the eternal.  One night in Bethlehem, happily ever after was truly born. The eternal happily ever after is never marred by sickness, death, betrayal or any of the brokenness that lives on this side of eternity.

If the thought of Christmas feels dark to you this year, let me remind you that as Christians, we are travelers here. We may not get our happily ever after this year or even next year, but we will get a happily after and it will be beyond our wildest imagination. That baby in the manger guarantees it.

So, if you long for the perfection of a Christmas snow globe, but your reality looks more like a dumpster fire, be encouraged, you are loved beyond measure and brighter days are coming. The Candle of Hope reminded me that a Hallmark Christmas movie doesn’t even come close to the true happily ever after that belongs to those who place their hope in Jesus. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂