Happy Sunday!

Usually this time of year, I try to write a post about Christmas. I don't make posts about my faith that often, but I at least try to do it around major holidays, like now.

But this year . . . I don't know why, but it's been so hard for me to narrow down a topic. Everything this month has been so weird, even for 2020.

*sigh* how is it already December?

This year's been intense. It seems like everything bad that could happen, has happened. There's a lot of fear and despair in the air, and everyone's been counting down to 2021, me included.

But look. If I'm going to be brutally honest here, moving from December 2020 to January 2021 isn't going to change anything. The change of year itself won't suddenly make everything better. If only it could. 

I don't know about you, but knowing that kind of makes me feel a little sad and depressed. Do we not have anything to look forward to?

And that's why I think it's so important to celebrate Christmas this year.

This season is a season of love, of the love that the Father gave us when he sent his Son to Earth, when Jesus took on our human nature and was born a tiny baby in a manger. 

It's a season of hope, of waiting, of rejoicing that our Father hasn't abandoned us, even in times of darkness.

Right now, it's so easy to see all the darkness, all the sin, all the despair of the world. It only seems to get worse in each passing moment.

But that's not all that's there. There's love and hope and faith and joy, even if you have to search to find them. There's beauty in the stars that sparkle each night and the snow that sweeps across the grass. There's joy as kids finish up their semesters and when friends see each other on video call. 

And there's the ever-present reminder in Mass and songs and Christmas trees that our God hasn't abandoned us. There is still hope for a better day. He didn't make the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate act of love, so we could despair forever. He didn't come down and assume our own nature just for us to lose hope.

Sure, this year's Christmas celebrations might be a little different, a little more lonely than usual. But just remember: there is still hope. 

And as we move closer to the new year, we need to bring that hope with us and let it drive our actions.

God is with us. Emmanuel.

- Nicole <3

Merry Christmas, friend. <3 <3