Family and Christmas

Christmas is a precious and wonderful time of year – a time where we expectantly anticipate the coming of Jesus. How he, the son of God, came as a baby to be the saviour of the world.

However, despite the incredible story we remember at this time of year, Christmas also brings about pain and struggle. And it’s often wrapped up in family.

Family – a word loaded with strong emotion and deep feeling.

You may have travelled across the country to get to your family’s HQ. There will probably be some rogue aunties, stray uncles or family friends around. You’ll all be together under a roof that was not built for so many people, with all their plus ones and babies. It will be a time of celebration and fun but also of tension. There may be a notable absence in your family number this year. There might be some new members.

In the middle of all things Christmas and New Year and the various family gatherings, emotions may run high. But let us be people who pray for our families and be people who lead for Jesus within that setting. Let’s choose to honour and love our families, even when it feels like a real struggle.

Hebrews 10:24–25 says, ‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near...’

Let’s make this the story of the time we spend together as a family this Christmas.