The Bruffeys at Christmas

As Josh, Jacob and I go through our days this December with the weather turning cooler, my heart turns towards things most precious in my life (that at times get overlooked as I rush through my work days, days as a Mama, days dealing with finances and cleaning and keeping up with my amazing 13 month old)... my Savior, my Father in Heaven, my beloved husband, my precious son, and our incredible family that has always thrived and survived on love at all costs and unity finding triumph over discord. I am blessed. I have dreams unfulfilled, expectations unmet, hurts unhealed... but I am BLESSED. I have food. I have friends. I have family. I am warm when outside it is cold and full when much of the world is in want. Beyond these physical needs, my spiritual need is met and because of this all the other needs and desires have a place to rest - in the hands of my Father - Yahweh. Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that heals), Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will Provide), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There). I am NONE of these things, yet through Christ I am healed, righteous, provided for, and never alone. 

As I think today and have a heart full of hurts and hopes - both mine and those belonging to dear ones around me - I had to stop and think of what is true. This is true: Jesus was born. He IS God's son. He lived a sinless life. He died on my behalf to conquer the sin that separated me from my Maker, my TRUE Father. He redeems me through faith in Him. I CAN and DO know God through Jesus. THAT is Christmas. 

I have long been jaded against cultural Christmas - after my huge let down at age 9 that Santa wasn't real. I have something of a deep, dramatic personality that YEARNS to BELIEVE. And believe I did - in Santa. HE met my needs and heart's desires. When I found out HE was FAKE... it was devastating. But JESUS is REAL and DOES meet my needs - not always my wants, but my NEEDS. As I look at my son and ponder what I want his Christmas memories to be... I wonder, will he be like me and devastated by the myth that is Santa? Or more like his Dad and take it in stride. We don't know... can't predict, so we've decided not to teach that Santa is real. We'll talk about Santa as sort of the "mascot" of cultural Christmas in much of the world. But I want Christmas to be JESUS, family, friends... unity, love, redemption, forgiveness and fun - all those things that Jesus brought to humankind by leaving his throne and wrapping himself in our humanness so that we might know our Heavenly Father who loves us.

Today, I think of many hurts around me but am AWE as I watch God intervene and bring TRUTH from lies, LIGHT from darkness, HEALING from hurt, and PROVISION of hearts' desires. Even when he seems to tarry, I am reminded that HIS timing is perfect:

"There is a time for everything. There's a time for everything that is done on earth"

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIRV, Bible)

I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, Jesus, or the life of Christianity. But I do. It is me. My culture. My Faith. My life. I know there are Christians who reject Christmas altogether and that is fine. I did some reading that pulled me back from this thinking and enabled me to embrace some cultural celebrations by sorting out that which contradicts my faith and eliminating this while still enjoying the innocent, enjoyable parts of holidays and human customs. And it is from this I celebrate Christmas by focusing on the blessing of family, friends, and this life I live on earth. Not by accident. Nothing by chance. All by design. So I share this as a part of what blogging is for me - sharing of me. Not to offend, just to share. In our culture where families are so spread out and friends live so far away, I want to share so we may stay somewhat connected as we live life, raise families, and journey from the cradle to the grave. 

So, from the Bruffey family to our beloved friends and family: we wish you Merry Christmas. May you know the love that is God - all year round! May you enjoy cultural customs that bring together friends and family and gives many time away from the daily grind, but more than that may you experience a love that lasts through each day, each journey, and straight through to eternity!