I don't know about you, but Christmas has lost the sparkle this year.
Christmas is actually the most magical time of year for the Hinseth clan. My brother Spencer and I start off every Christmas going ham on black Friday. We usually hit up about four different Targets. He tells me that he is going to invest in a good pillow... and every year he walks around Macy's with one in hand for about a half hour before finally deciding against it and then we go to Raising Canes for lunch.
We blast Christmas music in the car and fight over who gets control of the radio. It's one of my most favorite days and traditions. We eat too much, argue, critique one antoher's dating lives and spend too much money.
Christmas Eve and Christmas day are truly magical. Christmas Eve consists of service at church, Red Lobster and then a Christmas movie.
Then in the morning, Alex and Kayla and the three munchkins join us for presents and breakfast. PJs. All. Day. NBA on Christmas day, naps, and a lot of Christmas music.
I get sad when it's over. It's the few days that my family is just all together. Nowhere to be. I love my family so much that it hurts sometimes. What hurts is how much I take them for granted.
I make fun of my brothers and have annoyed them for 25 years on this earth. But when a boy broke my heart this year, they were on the other end of my sob-filled ramblings over the phone at 1:34am listening and encouraging. They were the ones that assured me that the right guy will come into my life and love me for who I am and all that I am.
The thing we ALL (Alex, Spencer, and Kayla as well as my dad, Doug) take for granted? How much Julie Marie Hinseth puts into this holiday season for us every year. She cooks. She bakes. She makes the house as magical as it was when we were children. She says this is for the grandkids but we know she would do it regardless.
And she does it with the most servant of hearts and all the sarcasm we know and love.
All this to say, on December 19th at 12:26am, I am aware that Christmas 2020 isn't going to look at all like the picture-perfect postcard that it has at the Hinseth house.
And that makes me sad.
COVID will greatly limit how close we can get to my mom. Like physically. Six feet. Masks on. Because we don't want her to get sick... at least sicker than she already is.
Julie is on an extremely restrictive diet. Which means she cannot even enjoy the goodies that people have lovingly dropped off.
So in summation:
No treats
No Christmas movie-night snuggles
No Christmas Eve service in person
The list could go on.
Are you depressed yet? Don't be. The hope is coming.
In the form of a baby. Born in Bethlehem. In a little manger. In an actual barn.
Jesus.
"Seriously, Kelly, you're going to give us a Sunday school lesson about the birth of Jesus?"
Yeah, I am. So pull up a chair, grab your cocoa and Bible and listen up:
The hope and light of the world is already here.
Luke 2:1-20 NIV
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
As a 25 year old lady, I'll admit that I became numb to this story over the years. Once you hear it and act it out and star in ALL of the Oak Haven Church pageants and get ALL the solos... you pretty much memorize Luke 2. (**Flips hair**)
This year, it feels a little different. It feels a little more like a lifeline. It feels like when my world is crumbling around me and it seems like ALL hope is lost... I need a reminder that hope and joy and saving came all in the form of a child. This little baby.
Dude, isn't that amazing??! How loved are we?! YOU. YOU are SO loved by the God above that He sent himself into this sick and broken world to save us. Because plain and simple, HE LOVES you.
A few weeks ago, I lost it over Lauren Daigle's song "Light of the World." The lyric that got me was:
"A child calls for peace on earth and she's calling out from a sea of hurt."
That's me. That's my mom. That's my family. I believe that is all of us as we say goodbye to a year that has left us broken, alone and searching for hope in every which way.
So how is my mom? That is a question that many people have asked. She is doing well. She is feeling the brunt and impact of her treatments. She will begin week four this coming week.
I think she looks hotter without hair. Sometimes she falls asleep on our FaceTime calls before I reach the punchline of my jokes. I give her a pass.
We could use some prayer for good health. We need to see one another this week. We need to be with one another and we do not want to get COVID. We've all been extremely cautious but it only takes one...
I truly hope that you have a joyous holiday season. I know this may be hard in 2020, the year that has felt like a thousand years. But know that Jesus loves you and he's coming into this world to be your savior.
God bless and Merry Christmas.
Comments