I have been there myself, angry at the world, wanting it all to stop or simply move on.

I had at times wanted to just wake up on January 2nd of whatever year because I couldn’t wait for the old year to end.

I was wrong.

I hear your pain, I feel your loss, I know the sorrow a year can cost.

But don’t let it take away something you can control. How you see Christmas is up to you. Imagine for a moment that someone confronts you in anger about something and they are on the attack.

What is their purpose in doing this?

They want to ruin your day, they want to anger you in return so that they have some satisfaction.

The moment you get angry, they win.

So it is with whatever is troubling you at this time.

You say, “I don’t want to celebrate Christmas!”

You say “It’s been a bad year.”

You say, “I can’t even listen to the music. I want it over with.”

Suddenly you have given more power to the thief that stole your joy. It is now taking your Christmas along with everything else you have lost.

No, you are giving it away.

You are giving up on the one moment in time when, no matter what has gone wrong, you have every reason to be happy.

This is family time. This is a coming together of those united in faith. This is a time not to curse the losses but to count the gains, the blessings.

It is, if nothing else, a time for thankfulness to God for the birth the Saviour.

The One who takes on our pain.

No, I am not suggesting you get up and dance if the loss or pain was unbearable. God understands mourning.

I am saying see the possibility, cling to the last bit of life left in this year and declare…

“You will not take this away from me!”

Remember we do not know how many more Christmases we have left to be joy-filled.

Don’t give this one away.

Don’t give up on Christmas!

Bob Perks bobperks@comcast.net