A Wonderfully Wretched Christmas.

Dec 11, 2024

When I was young, my dad decided to leave a mainline denomination and start a church. As a result, he was without a regular income, and we spent many years with very little money.

I remember one year. We were renting a beautiful home under one condition. The man informed my dad that when the house sold, we would need to move quickly. The house did sell and my dad wanted to be a man of his word so he packed up and moved on the day we were supposed to. Even though we had nowhere to go. We moved to a shack that our Amish friends owned. 

My dad eventually found an apartment to move us into. It was too small for all of us and I can remember my dads discouragement and feeling ashamed of himself because he was not “providing” well. 

Here is the funny part. That Christmas in that tiny apartment was one of my favorites. It was cozy and we had a tiny Christmas tree I can still hear Christmas with Jullie Andrews playing as my mother made cookies. I remember all getting the flu that Christmas

It was a wonderfully wretched Christmas.

Christmas time brings with it the pressure to perform. To be some sort of holiday magician and put on the holiday of the century for your kids. Don’t forget that what what you might perceive as a holiday nightmare your Children or grandchildren may hold near and dear to them long after you have passed. 

This Christmas set aside the anxiety and create nostalga.

Bless you. 

• Pastor.