Christmas Thoughts

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

This Christmas, I'm trying hard not to lose sight of what it's really about. Sure I'm excited about getting presents, even more so about giving them. But the real gift was given to us a long time ago. The moments are few and far between where I will reveal my religious beliefs to anyone. And yet, something about this time of year sort of brings it out.

No, I didn't go to my church's Christmas Eve service this year. No, I don't pray every night when I go to sleep. No, I don't confess all of my misdeeds.

But I still feel like He's with me, despite all of that. Even when I question what I believe, I never really feel empty. So tonight, I'll read the Nativity story all over again, like I do every year. And then I'll think about the million ways I've been blessed. And then I'll pray: for my friends who are sick, for the ones that are struggling with any sort of loss, even for the ones that are happy-so they'll stay that way. And I'll pray for guidance in my own life, because even the most independent of us need to look up sometimes.

Perhaps at some point this new year, I'll be able to forgive.

My eyes are to You...