“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9

When you were growing up, was Christmas all about the gifts? It sure was for me! I remember feeling and shaking my wrapped presents during the weeks and days before Christmas, wondering what was inside them. Any one of those presents could be that new doll or CD I wanted, or something wonderful I had never imagined. Christmas morning was even better, because I didn’t get to look at those presents beforehand (unless I snuck a peek in the middle of the night, which I admit I did quite a few times!) I often measured the worth of each Christmas by whether I got the gifts on my wish list or not. Christmas dinner and church services and visiting relatives were just the preliminaries, while the presents were definitely the main event.

As I grew older, I realized that everything about the Christmas season can be both fun and memorable. The presents are still exciting, but I now love giving as well as receiving gifts. Christmas dinner with family is always fun and festive. I love the whole Christmas season and all the joy and anticipation that it brings.

A new and lasting dimension of joy was added last Christmas, thanks to my husband. Chaplain Tim wanted to show me that Christmas joy doesn’t have to end along with the day itself, so after we got home from our family’s Christmas dinner, we had our own little communion with crackers and grape juice. We retold the story of how Jesus Christ, the baby who was born today, had ultimately given his life to attone with God for the sins of the world. During our communion, I realized that the joy that God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice have brought us will never have to end.

If you’re anything like me, you may be feeling a little depressed that all the Christmas music and decorations will be going away in a few days. But even though the outer trappings of the Christmas season will be gone, you can keep the joyful story and wonderful meaning of Christmas in your heart for as long as you live. This week, I hope you’ll remember to keep the hope and promise of the Christmas story in your heart. I’ve said this before, but I feel it bears repeating: If you believe in God’s only son, Christmas can and will last much longer than a single day. I hope the joy of Christmas will shine within you forever!

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please send it to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870.
To find out more about HCMA, visit them at www.hcmachaplains.org.

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 641-715-3900, ext. 874157.