The other day I was going for a walk, talking to God about all that was on my mind, and opening myself up for any thoughts He wanted to place on my heart.
Probably because the holidays are coming up and my mind is beginning to think on those, my thoughts drifted to traditions and changes, as time marches on. 🧡
Over the past several years, things would come up around the holidays that would shake up our “norm.” And I use the word normal loosely because I feel like I’ve never had rigid traditions. As much as I’ve felt like maybe I should, especially as it’s easy to look around at holiday times and see all the other Pinterest-worthy traditions and activities other people get into during the holidays.
One year, when I was pregnant, I was so exhausted and had so much anxiety being pregnant after loss that I didn’t wrap our gifts. They came in cardboard Amazon boxes and stayed that way, other than the ones that came with pictures of the items on the boxes (not sure who thought that was a good idea 😂)— those, I removed from their boxes and put in dollar tree bags, which was the second most fuss-free option!
I was so worried the kids would be disappointed not having Christmas paper to tear open, but they didn’t care. They reminded me Christmas isn’t about gifts anyway, and that they were glad I was tired because they were getting a new brother. ❤️
Another tradition we used to have was cutting down our own fresh Christmas tree. This is one of our best kept ones, except for a year I was having a miscarriage and in so much physical pain when we went that we ended up grabbing a precut one and rushing home. 😞 Or last year when we just couldn’t find a day to go when the weather wasn’t crappy and none of us had a cold, so we hit up the local corner tree place and chose one from a half dozen that they had precut there, threw it in the back of the truck, and drove home— decidedly content and not needing tradition to be joyful, but all the same— it just wasn’t the same.
You know that feeling, I’m guessing.
We just want it to feel “the same” sometimes don’t we?
Just like it used to?
The warm fuzzy feelings.
The perfect holiday moments that make our hearts feel like they’re going to burst!
Some days, years, holiday seasons are like that.
And sadly, some aren’t.
Some are just plain hard.
Years when loved ones who once were at the very centers of our circles won’t be with us this year.
Maybe they’ve gone on to heaven.
Maybe divorce has removed them from lives and families.
Maybe some friends and family have relocated.
And it’s just not the same, and the feelings are messy, and you just crave the comfort of the old days that you can’t go back to as much as you wish you could.
So many people on my heart this year that this applies to. ❤️🩹
And when I was on my walk with God, I was praying for them. And I was just thinking to myself how we long for something, anything that just stays “the same.”
Something, someone reliable.
Infinitely faithful.
A tradition that’s never changing.
A place to go that is always open,
never closes shop,
never gives up or goes away-
Whether by choice or by force.
Like that grandparents’ house that always had an open door and a warm welcome.
Or the place that always “knew your name and were always glad you came” (not the bar, but Cheers 🍻 had a catchy theme song didn’t it?)
Deep down I think in a world that’s constantly changing (and these days, shockingly so), we all just crave something and someone that doesn’t.
On that walk, God reminded me that HE fits that need.
He’s the only one who does!
——-
The next morning I woke up, and my husband’s bracelet caught my eye.
Its letters stand for
Jesus
Christ
Is
The
Same
Yesterday
And
Today
And
Forever!
This verse is so perfectly fitting for that craving for something that never changes, isn’t it?
I knew that was it!
There’s no place—
no home,
no holiday attraction,
no church even—
like our home in Him!
Our “quiet place”, affirming place, place of peace
in His presence!
When He gave me this verse it was as if a word that had been in my heart but I couldn’t identify with my mind in order to be able to express FINALLY came out! Such relief to identify the exact thing I was longing for!
And then He brought another verse to mind which I’m sharing below.
I believe someone else may need to hear this today:
God says to you and to me:
*️⃣I have cared for you since you were born.
*️⃣I carried you BEFORE you were born.
*️⃣I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
Until your hair is white with age!
*️⃣I made you and I will care for you!
*️⃣I will carry you along and save you!
(No need to carry it all yourself or save yourself.
Not from life,
and not even from emotions!)
Wow. God is so so faithfully, reliably, timelessly GOOD.
HE is our real Home.
And He never will change!
He’s the same loving and sovereign God,
yesterday, today, and forever!
Isn’t that a breath of fresh holiday air?🌲 🥰
I hope it brings someone else comfort, joy, and peace today!
From Full 