A Different Kind of Christmas

"The fullness of Your grace is here with me

The richness of Your beauty's all I see

The brightness of Your glory has arrived."

It's been a christmas of a different kind this year. It's been a christmas without snow. without friends. without church. without tennessee. without home. BUT. it has been a christmas of lessons. of forgiveness. of redeeming. of road trips. of crazy animals. and of family. Then again, christmas hasn't been the same since South Africa. it took a completely different turn for me after that. and if it were up to me, the only gift I would be receiving would be a plane ticket and a blessing to spend my days in Eldorado Park. Yes, i get to sneak in a few items of choice that I would like to add to my collection. but it is SO much more than that for me.
Christmas is about my favorite dude. and how he was brought into the world and why. I can just picture the world: so broken & on the fringe, if you will. I see myself as the world sometimes, broken and on the edge. but in both instances God invites the world and me into a beautiful story of love and restoration. he says, "i love you this much." He loved the world SO much that he sent his son. and he loves me SO much that he sends his son for me. as he was being brought into the world, God said: I'm doing this for Emily.
if that doesn't just blow your mind, then just sit down. I guess it blows me away like never before this season because i have had so many times when i have screwed up and my friends and coworkers and family have forgiven me and loved me all the same. things like that are on such a tiny scale compared to what God did for all of us. and how he loves us SO much that he would send us a savior.
I don't know, you guys, I just get so excited thinking about it all. about the real-ness of the manger scene. and of God's love for us all. and for me. its kind of like when you get a gift that is just so YOU. and you cannot contain your excitement. that's how I feel about Jesus. he is "the gift that keeps on giving." and he loves me and guides me. and I know it sounds silly because I talk about it all like I'm a 3rd grader, but that's how he makes me feel. I feel like a little kid again thinking about his love for me. it's just incredible to think about.
So even though home is far away and I don't get to see my friends around christmas, the season is not spoiled because Jesus is coming. and God is whispering around the world,

"see. I love you SO much.

 I'm not going to leave you. 

I'm bringing you a savior. remember. remember. 

remember." 

My hope is that you remember how much He truly loves you. and that you are restored by his unfailing love. That you will look past the gifts and the traditions and the family/friends time and see Jesus. I know the cliche that he is the reason for the season. but its SO much more than that. Let this be a different kind of Christmas for you. Let this be one of excitement and Joy for the coming of our Savior.