By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew
Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ, and as much as we recognize the joy that comes because of this new life of possibilities, of peace, and the fulfillment of the promise, we must also reconcile that our joy is also a result of the pain of Jesus’ death.
The miracle of his birth is a reminder that in the midst of opposition and uncertainty, life changing moments occur that bring us joy. Our lives are filled with many miracles that may start off as something beautiful but can have challenges, obstacles and sadness.
The life of Jesus was no exception. We can not expect celebration consistently without circumstances that arise, bringing us to our knees.
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.”Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
It is heartbreaking to experience loss and to know death is inevitable from the moment we are born. What we do know is that the birth of Jesus demonstrates we can have a full, purposeful life that can impact others for generations to come.
His death is also life-giving because we have accepted the gift of eternal life. This knowledge should make our joy complete no matter what we go through.
As we celebrate this holiday season, we can embrace the full circle of our existence, knowing that in birth, death and in between, Jesus is with us. We can rest in knowing that through our darkest moments, we can have the joy Jesus promises from the beginning until the end.
From the 2021 Buckner International Advent Guide. Download https://www.buckner.org/blog/the-2021-buckner-advent-guide-is-here/ to receive the entire free guide of devotionals.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.
