I realized again today that I usually shed a few tears every Christmas day.
I woke up early as usual and started to thank God for sending Jesus to rescue me from the curse of sin. I then began thanking Him for all the blessings we have received throughout the year.
God has been so good to us and so I shed a few tears while thanking Him for all his blessings.
A little while later a few tears began to flow while we were opening our Christmas presents as a family. It always becomes apparent that our eldest son Andrew is not with us and so a few quiet tears flow amidst the joy of giving and receiving our gifts.
The other time during the day when a few tears get through my guard is when everyone has gone or out doing something and I have time alone to look back over the year now gone and consider some of the mistakes I have made and opportunities I have missed.
I always do a stocktake at Xmas as the new year just a few days away causes me to focus on things ahead. And so as I look back over my year – as I am doing right now – I find a few tears come to the surface over silly things said and done. But that is why I like Xmas. Because God understands how I feel and is quick to forgive and make whole. Sometimes in all the fuss and frenzy of Xmas a few tears can help put it all into perspective and help us turn again to the loving arms of the one who sent His only Son to invade our world with unconditional love.
