John 1:14 AMPC And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
I’m rejoicing in my first solo Christmas this year. But I think I’m not alone in this celebration of a solo Christmas. There are often far more people than we might realize who will have a solo Christmas this year. A solo Christmas not of their own choosing, but from life circumstances and conditions, or lack of community.
(Please make sure and read all the way to the end of this post. Thank you!)
A solo Christmas is a celebration of Christmas done at home with my Jesus, the dog, and me. A solo Christmas is a choosing of Christmas down in my heart with joy, peace, and receiving. In other words, the choice to rejoice is essential for receiving the joy necessary for a solo Christmas. The receiving of my Good God’s good plan for good here in my home by myself, instead of what I’d known as good in many years before with family at their homes.
Yes, there is (much) good sitting here in this “Silent Night.” Yes, there is (much) gratefulness while humming praises here to my Jesus in “Joy to the World.” Yes, there is (much) gladness resting here while reflecting on my childhood “Away in the Manger” set.
Because the good, gratefulness, and goodness of a solo Christmas are intricately woven with my trusting in my Good God’s goodness in all things and at all times. The unchanging hope found in God’s goodness isn’t dependent on circumstance, condition, or community. It’s dependent on my choices to continue in commitment and celebration of the birth of my Christ Jesus.
Not even unwanted side effects of chemotherapy can stifle the hope, peace, joy, and love of Advent. Not even an unforeseen diagnosis of breast cancer can stop the Message of the Messiah born in a manger low. Not even unasked-for life changes from disease can silence the angel chorus proclaiming the good news that our Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life has come (see John 14:6).
Jesus, our Christ, our Emmanuel, our “God with us” is here (see Matthew 1:23).
For when I reside and rest in the truth that Jesus is here with me, no matter what, it really isn’t a solo Christmas. My Jesus hasn’t (and won’t!) ever turned away or left me here alone (see Hebrews 13:5).
There is never a moment to live or mountain to climb without my Christ Jesus.
He is here in the silence and the suffering.
Jesus is here in the joy and the journey.
He is here in the challenges and the choosing.
Jesus is here in the wonder and the wilderness.
Jesus came as fully man and fully God.
He came for all of us for all circumstances for all time (see Romans 6:10).
And all of creation and created were forever changed with His coming.
Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the Word, became flesh for us and made His home with us (see John 1:14).
Jesus, our Emmanuel, our “God with us.”
Jesus was the One Who was there at creation and at Calvary.
Jesus is the One Who is the Light and Life.
Jesus is the One Who has all things under His feet forever (see 1 Corinthians 15:27).
Jesus is the One Who is greater than anyone or anything that has (or could) come. For anything includes all diagnoses, diseases, disappointments, and denials and unfulfilled dreams, unknown directions, and unrealized desires. All that is trying to crush us now has already been conquered by Christ many years ago.
And that truth alone is far more than enough for me to open wide my heart and mouth in joyful noise and join the angel chorus in this solo Christmas with “gloria, gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
Whether your Christmas celebrations are with multitudes or nobody, you’re never truly alone. For our Good God is there with you while He’s here with me. And that’s a truth that never changes, no matter what has (or might) change with our circumstances, conditions, or communities.
Merry Christmas to you and your families and friends! May we all live in the truth that Our Jesus is the greatest gift ever given. May we all rejoice in His Presence with us, His plans for us, His power through us, and His purpose in us.
A few notes to clarify on this devotional:
- I chose the phrase “joyful noise” because even my best efforts at music are at least one note (or three) off the melody. But that doesn’t slow me down on the singing, despite memories from when my sons were little. For when they were little and I was singing to the radio, they’d often say “no, Mama, no sing, please!” And they were serious! I hope that brought a smile to your face like it did for me then when hearing them say it and now in writing about it.
- For Star Wars fans – A solo Christmas isn’t referencing a Christmas with Han Solo and a tree full of Ewoks, the Millenium Falcon, and light sabers (no matter how appealing that might be to some of my friends and family (grin!).)
- In case there are any questions, the only reason for a solo Christmas is cancer treatment and need to isolate to reduce germ exposure. Andy and I are delighting in 33.5 years of marriage, 2 grown sons, their wives, and grandbabies. The goodness of our Good God overflows our cups daily.
written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2024.
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