Share Something Saturday: December

Here we are, the last Saturday of 2020 and this year sure has been a doozy. I find myself in a combination of excitement and fear. I keep thinking “Well it’s got to be better than last year.” while simultaneously worrying that we haven’t seen the worst of things.

Things Loved

I’m finding myself walking through this Advent tinged by grief and loss, for so many reasons. But one thing I have unexpectedly loved is family church. After having returned to in-person services (albeit masked and distanced) our church unexpectedly canceled services one Sunday after another until finally canceling all services until January.

I look forward so much to church, especially during Advent, so this felt like a big blow. Rather than watching the pre-recorded worship and teaching, my extended family decided we would gather together each Sunday and do family church which has been really great. No, the kids don’t always cooperate. We keep it very simple with the singing of traditional hymns and carols as well as scripture and Advent readings. While we target the material to the children, out of necessity, I can say that as an adult I’m getting a lot out of it as well. We even incorporate the reading of some spiritual Christmas picture books and find the adults are as touched, if not more so, than the children.

I told my husband that if there had to be a time for church to be canceled and for us to be forced to improvise, this a great time to do it. I’m hopeful our creative solution to this difficult time will have a positive impact on our kiddos in years to come.

Things Read

My Christmas reading has actually been going really well.

I blew through two Christmas novels, two Christmas novellas and a reread an old favorite.

I also finished two new Advent devotionals and my read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. I’ve got a few last books to finish up before the end of the year but I have high hopes for lots of reading time this year.

Things Treasured

With all the things we’ve lost this year, I’m grateful that a live, in-person Christmas Eve service wasn’t one of them. While it was a much simpler and stripped-down service, (and no candles for individuals which was big bummer) it was all the best things about Christmas. Singing of carols, and reading of scriptures, which, if I’m honest, is all I really want most Christmases.

While, as a creative soul, I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into the fancy and artsy services, as a parent, simplicity at this busy time of year seems emminently better. I just want the chance to gather and bask in the presence of God and his people as we celebrate one of the most holy events in history. Sometimes all those other things, wonderful as they may be, distract rather than direct.

So I’m grateful I was able to raise my voice in the house of the Lord like so many others on that night, both now and in ages past and hopefully for years to come.

Things Ahead

After another unstable year of employment, hubby is slated to start a new job in January and we’re praying this will be a good fit and a hopefully long term situation for him.

While we weathered this last round of, admittedly shorter, unemployment well, having faced it twice in two years has been difficult. While we’re reevaluated things like how large an emergency fund we realistically need (especially when unemployment compensation is unreliable or unavailable) it’s also reminded us again of where we put our trust.

God has always sustained us, whether through regular paychecks or random gift cards and envelopes of cash. So as we head into a new year with so much that is still uncertain, I remember again that our trust is not in governments, employment, full refrigerators, or fat bank accounts, but in Jesus Christ.

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