As I pause on this Christmas Eve, my heart turns to the true essence of this sacred celebration – the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Beyond the wrapped presents and twinkling lights, I’m reminded that the greatest gift ever given wasn’t placed under a tree but in a humble manger in Bethlehem.

Looking back over this year’s journey, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Each morning I could rise, and work was a blessing. Every moment of peace in a turbulent world was a gift. The warmth of family gatherings, the laughter shared with friends, the simple joy of good health—these precious gifts have filled my days with grace and meaning.

My heart especially reaches out to those who are hurting this Christmas. I see you, dear friends, who are facing an empty chair at your table, whose loved ones have left this earthly realm this year. Your pain is real. I want you to know that while today’s sorrow feels overwhelming, I promise you that healing will come. Not to erase your memories but to transform your tears into tender remembrances of the love you shared. I miss my dad at Christmas, but I have hopes of resurrection, and that I will see him again, someday. Not in this world, but in heaven. That, is my faith.

Reflecting on that first Christmas night, I’m moved by its powerful message of hope rising from humble circumstances. Mary and Joseph, far from home, found light in their darkest hour. This reminds me—and all of us—that even in our moments of deepest sadness, we’re held in divine love’s embrace.

Whether you’re celebrating joyfully or quietly nursing a tender heart this Christmas, I invite you to join me in embracing the profound love that entered our world that holy night. In Jesus’s birth, we find our ultimate source of gratitude – the assurance that dawn always follows darkness, that love never truly ends, and that hope blooms eternal in even the coldest seasons of our lives.

As I bow my head in prayer today, I’m thankful not just for the blessings I can count but for the limitless love that counts us all worthy, that’s our pain, celebrates our joy, and promises us that better days lie ahead. This is the true spirit of Christmas – a love that transforms, heals, and makes all things new.

Merry Christmas my dear friends, and to those who don’t celebrate, have a fabulous and relaxing holiday. See you in 2025!

Much love, always! 🙂