Christmas came way too fast this year! It’s here and I am anticipating with excitement cerebrating the birth of Christ tonight and tomorrow with my husband and our children and grandson.

As much as I love these days, they can also bring some disappointment and frustration.

It’s been hard trying to get ready the last month or so. I’ve been weak and tired and often in so much pain that most days I push through the morning and climb into bed by noon.

We watched the Kelly Clarkson Christmas special this year. She spoke a lot about her own emotions during Christmas and how she has sometimes been sad, sometimes angry, and sometimes happy. She said no right or wrong emotion – even at Christmas time – and I completely agree.

I know several women who are having some extreme emotions this Christmas season.

One woman recently left an abusive relationship and is staying in a shelter for battered women.

One had a breakup not long ago, from a man she fully intended to marry.

Another lost her father just days ago.

The wave of emotions these women must be feeling could easily override the joy we all want to feel during Christmas.

Wherever you’re at in life right now – battling sickness or devastating life changes – your feelings are what they should be. It’s ok to be happy, it’s ok to be sad. It’s ok to celebrate, it’s ok to cry.

But no matter what you’re feeling, I hope you are able to find something to be thankful for.

Me? I’m thankful that I’ve had some good moments (even when those moments haven’t been long enough) these last few weeks. I’m thankful for my family who will all be together today. I’m thankful for a loving God who was willing to send His son to experience human life, and human emotion.

Merry Christmas 🎄

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man,] and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Matthew 1:18-25 (NKJV)