CHRISTMAS HOPE

Christmas is here! And this is the first year in many years that I get time for rest and time with family for Christmas. Honestly, it's the best gift I could ever receive since this time of year is often so crazy with busyness and I don't get to savor the spirit & joy of the season.

I know that this season is not the most joyous time for everyone. There is pain and hardship surrounding me. For the past two Christmases, I spent 80 hour weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit taking care of the sickest patients in the hospital. I remember trying my best to grab for any piece of joy and hope to share with the families and patients despite the exhaustion & stress of 30 hour calls. Honestly, it was really difficult and I sometimes felt like hope was so far out of reach. I can't even put myself in the shoes of the families living through the hills and valleys of the news we would deliver them at different moments of each day. 

One lesson I learned throughout residency was that in order to overcome the sadness and feeling of hopelessness that could've so easily taken hold of me, I had to wake up each day with the decision to choose joy. And my joy is always found in the hope that I have in God.

I am so thankful for the greatest gift of Hope that was given to each of us in the form of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. Through my faith in Jesus, I know that I am loved always despite my failings and mistakes. It doesn't mean that life will be easy and perfect, but I know that even when life seems hopeless, there is always hope when I look to Christ. 

So my plan is to find moments of stillness this season to remind myself of this sweet hope. One place I find stillness is during my quiet times in the Word. Another place is in another good book found on the shelves of a cute bookstore. Where do you find your moments of stillness?

Wishing you a truly joy-filled Christmas! You are so loved & I am so thankful for you!

PS. If you missed the video from yesterday's post, my sister and I created a Christmas mashup & recorded it for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!