It’s the middle of December. Actually, we are less than 2 weeks away from Christmas. 

Yes, outside does look like Christmas, the backyard has lights, the frontyard has lights.

Inside the tree is up, lit up, and dolled up. All six stockings are hanging by the fireplace.

Wrapped up presents are under the tree, but it still feels like such a blah Christmas!

But something is off, and I’m sure I can put not only one but all ten fingers on it.

This year has been like a roller coaster on steroids. Really bad steroids. 

Politics, virus, masks, lockdowns, riots, disruption all around.

The losses are weighing in on everybody in so many different ways. 

No, it’s not just one thing, it’s a lot of things in the bucket. 

Whether or not you follow the news, you know there is more than one fly on the cake.

I can’t say my tiny family has been affected but a lot of people I know has. 

I know that’s the part that feels off. 

We have God. Whether you believe there is a God or not, God is still there. 

Some people believe and pray. Some don’t. That is of course their prerogative. 

Some others have reached the end of their rope and started praying even if they doubted. 

Regardless, God exists and here we are. People not believing, again, their prerogative.

Society as a whole have opted to go with their chosen beliefs, morals, ethics. 

It’s not the first time it happens, it happened before. It’s all in the Bible.

I won’t presume to know what God wants right this very second, but I have read the Bible. 

I do believe God wants our hearts, our minds and our full devotion. 

Right from the start, God has given and forgiven the humans He created, over and over. 

God even gave us His one and only son. It was written down God would do that. 

We all know the birth of Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas.

I know there’s a shadow of despair. All around. God gives us a glimpse of hope though. 

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Christmas is about Jesus, and our faith in Jesus and God is what holds us together. 

The birth of Jesus brought peace and joy to the world.

Not only that, but believing in Jesus can bring peace and joy to our hearts.

Do you really have any other options? 

The kid and I have been praying for something every single night for years, for God to bring peace to both our hearts and our minds. 

I realize it is very easy to lose hope and allow despair take over. 

It’s harder because people feel so uneasy about getting together.

We all miss getting together.

Reading Romans 15:13 finally put my very own finger on it. 

I need to pray harder, though ask for God to bring others peace to their hearts and minds. 

Maybe sharing with others what brings peace and joy to our hearts is what needs to be done. 

If others would ask God to bring peace to their hearts and minds could be the gate for some joy. 

The joy coming from knowing Jesus is in us despite the dark shadow hovering over us.

That’s where the spirit of Christmas is all about this year.

Inspiring hopes in others. It’s all we can really on hold on to nowadays.

Holding on to the peace and joy that comes from having Jesus in our hearts. 

We’ll get there, somehow. Maybe the blah can be forgotten.

Maybe Christmas can be just it. Christmas.

It doesn’t hurt to watch A Christmas Story followed by a bunch of Hallmark movies. 

For now, online Christmas shopping while watching yet another Christmas movie with some hot cocoa.