The constant that remains

It is Christmas. Afghans decorate couches and recliners for warmth as fireplaces push back the cold. Children are excited about the jolly ole elf who magically delivers the best toys underneath the Christmas tree.
As a child, I remember watching my Mom put together a silver Christmas tree, each limb fitted into place and decorated with red balls. As a final touch, a red, green, yellow, and blue light rotated beneath the tree, reflecting the colors of the season. Butterflies would churn in my stomach as I awaited the magical morning when the gifts would appear. I am amazed at how quickly my childhood passed by.
The silver Christmas tree with a rotating light remains an essential decoration for the holiday. It is a childhood memory I have held onto. Nevertheless, the meaning of Christmas has changed. I no longer look for Santa and his reindeer. Through the years, I have seen the excitement in my children’s eyes as they tried to sleep. My heart misses tucking them in on Christmas Eve. Yet, I find great joy in watching them share the Christmas magic with my grandchildren.
So goes the seasons of life; they pass by so quickly. The holidays create a mixed bag of emotions. My blessings stand against a backdrop of longing for what once was. I am not alone in this. Many find this time of year difficult. I would love one more Christmas with my children underfoot as I prepare a festive dinner. I wish for their giggles and antics of yesterday. There is also a longing for those who have gone before me. I miss the scent of Mom’s cotillion cologne and sawdust on Dad’s work shirt. I miss going home. Even so, without today, I would miss the blessings of my grown children and my grandchildren.
As a people of faith, we can rejoice today, looking forward to tomorrow, when all longing will cease. In the scripture, we learn of a time when King David and Bathsheba lost a child. King David knew he could not bring his son back to this world; David’s response to his grief was to prepare his heart for the day when all longing would end (2 Samuel 12:14-3).
In this lies our hope as well, the preparation of our hearts. We celebrate Christmas with a tree, gifts, and good cheer. However, the most incredible gift given was laid in a manger made of stone. King David could not bring his son back to life, yet generations later, a son would be born, bringing eternal life to all who believed. When we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the end of all longing. We celebrate a kingdom where all sadness and grief subside. We observe an eternal life where the hope, peace, joy, and love of advent are endless. Christmas is a time of preparing our hearts to meet those who have gone before us.
How blessed we are to know that Jesus, the baby born at Christmas, grew to be a man spending the last three years of His life teaching the Kingdom of God. Jesus knew joy and happiness. He knew grief, pain, and longing. He also knew victory. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we are given the keys to eternal life, where all longing will cease. I pray that we reflect on yesterday, embrace today, and look forward to tomorrow, the truth of our faith, for that is the constant that remains every Christmas season.
Isaiah 9:6 For us, a child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.