Christmas is for rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.
Over this short, twelve-day season I have been called upon to rejoice with those who rejoice (including two birthday parties); to mourn with those who mourn (including several deaths; a wife whose husband has walked out on her; not to mention global news such as the flood in Queensland, and the first British soldier to die in Afghanistan in 2011); and, indeed, to participate in bitter-sweet moments (including a leaving do for a friend, who is moving on to a new season which will be great for them, but will be missed by those who knew him in the season that has come to an end).
It seems to me fairly meaningless to wish you a Happy New Year: not least when yet again a new year is marked by a natural disaster on a massive scale; not least when so many people in the city where I live will lose their jobs in the coming months. Happy, no: not really, not on the whole; not really worth pursuing; never found in the pursuing anyway. But an accompanied New Year, that might be a worthy blessing.
My prediction for 2011 is this:
some hard days; some joyous moments; some bitter disappointments; some happy surprises; God's constant faithfulness in every circumstance - though we won't always recognise it at the time.
My prayer: may we know God with us in the days ahead, be they bitter, sweet, or bitter-sweet.
Christmas is for rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.
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