Find ways to rejoice this Christmas

Last Friday, my family and I began the monumental task of bringing all the Christmas decoration totes and boxes up from the basement.

There are quite a few. In fact, the entire wall of wooden shelves in our basement is practically nothing but holiday decorations.

I know it is a day that my husband dreads, but it brings me so much joy to decorate the house for any holiday, but especially Christmas. I put up 10 trees. Yes, you read that correctly. Now, these trees range in size from 12 inches to nine feet so it isn’t as daunting of a task as it sounds, and we don’t take them apart each year. We just store them assembled in the basement.

Each year since Kevin and I married, I have hosted a Christmas Open House for our church members which gives me the opportunity to do one of my other holiday passions – baking. It is just our gift to the congregation. This year, there will be no party.

Someone asked me a few weeks ago if I was going to put up all of my trees even though there would be no open house. My answer was simply, “Of course.”

I don’t decorate my house for Christmas for anyone other than myself. If it brings Christmas spirit and joy to others then that is just a bonus.

Although let’s be honest, it is hard to find joy in the holidays this year. I have been brutally honest about my time on the struggle bus of late. There are times when I think I might actually be driving the struggle bus. I have to constantly remind myself to find the joy in the journey. Look for the joy in the here and now, Dana. It is there – find it or create your own.

So, with that in mind, the Christmas decorating was completed – it took three days. We will also try to continue all the Christmas traditions too – as best as we can during a worldwide pandemic. We will even create new traditions and fun as we seek to find joy in these uncertain times.

Kevin preached about joy on Sunday (virtually of course). He talked about Paul and his letter to the Philippians where he told them to rejoice. It really made me think about how that relates to us now.

Paul was confined to prison in Rome because of his faith. He was away from everyone and everything. Now, I am not comparing our “pandemic prison” to Paul’s actual prison other than to say Paul didn’t have a lot to rejoice – after all, the word rejoice is defined as feeling or showing GREAT joy or delight.

The letters he wrote during his imprisonment could have said, “woe is me.” He could have complained or been depressed or even fearful. He could have questioned or been angry with God. But, instead, he told the people of Philippi to be JOYFUL and REJOICE.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:4-5.

Paul uses the word rejoice or joy 13 times in 11 verses.

REJOICE? I think if I had read his letter knowing he was in prison for doing nothing wrong, I would have thought he had lost his mind. What did he have to be joyful about? Even now, one has to wonder how he found peace and joy in his situation.

How? Because Paul knew “the Lord was near.” He wasn’t joyful because he was in prison. He was joyful despite being in prison because no matter his circumstances the Lord was by his side.

Paul learned to be content with whatever he had in life.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances,” Philippians 4:11.

For Paul, having joy wasn’t based on his circumstances. He knew that no matter where he was or what he faced, God was with him and that was reason enough to rejoice.

I read Philippians again this week and tried to relate it to my own struggles.

My situation in dealing with the pandemic is nothing compared to the persecution that Paul faced for his beliefs.

If Paul could be content and find a reason to rejoice then why can’t I?

I don’t have to be joyful because of the coronavirus, but I can be joyful in spite of it. I can find ways of being content in my circumstances – because God is by my side no matter what we are facing in life – pandemic and beyond.

Maybe the reason that I have been struggling with joy lately is because I have been trying to find it in the wrong things/ways.

I am determined to have joy in this holiday season. We may not get to celebrate and do the things we typically do. We may feel confined to a “pandemic prison,” but Jesus is still with us. The whole reason for the holiday hasn’t changed and for that alone there is reason to rejoice.