A post-Christmas message

There are two types of people in this world: Those who enjoy watching Hallmark Christmas movies, and those who relentlessly demean them. My brother is the latter.

I was watching a typical “girl-meets-handsome-guy-at-Christmas” movie when Zak walked into the room and started mercilessly joking about the film.

“Stop,” I said, genuinely annoyed.

It was okay for me to make fun of Hallmark movies, but when my brother did it, I was highly annoyed. See, there is a certain decorum involved with watching a Hallmark movie. When the characters do something stupid: You laugh. But when the girl is either getting her heart ripped out or having her toe-pop moment: You don’t laugh.

Why?

Because we all want that moment of acceptance. We crave it, no matter how irrational. Maybe you don’t, but I do.

And there’s a reason for that. We were created with a yearning to be loved, to be desired. There’s arguably no better proof of that, than the Christmas season itself.

We spend money; time; and effort, to cherish the people we love, in hopes that they will cherish us back. Whether it’s cookie decorating or viewing Christmas lights, no one wants to be uninvited.

Yet, that’s exactly how our Savior entered the world. He, and His laboring mother, weren’t invited into the inn.

Now that we’ve officially rung in 2018, it’s easy to forget our Savior’s birth and forge on into the new year. But I don’t want that this year. For me, this year has been a lot of busyness and worry, followed by relief and trust. And I don’t want to blow past the simple grace of the gospel, solely because that was “last week’s message.”

The truth is, whether it’s December 25 or the Fourth of July: We all have the desire to be accepted and loved. The good news is that regardless of the season, Christ loves you. Regardless of what the calendar says, you are deeply treasured by Him. Take time to breathe in that truth, and let it resonate in your heart.

We serve a great and mighty God, full of compassion and more loving than any Hallmark movie could portray. That is something worth celebrating year round.

Love,

Hannah