Christmas was magical to me as a young boy. The fresh-cut pine tree loaded with lights and ornaments; piles of snow outside; the Charlie Brown Christmas special; holiday kielbasa and raspberry cream pies; family gatherings; opening gifts; no school for two weeks… for me as a kid, it didn’t get any better than Christmastime. All I had to do was show up… and holiday goodness flooded my way.

Christmas as a parent introduced a new set of dynamics. I quickly discovered how much energy my parents expended to make Christmas special for me and my eight siblings. Christmas felt different as a parent. Instead of just showing up and reaping the fruit of other’s hard work… we had to create the atmosphere for our boys. Christmas took on a new flavor… but it was still wonderful. Who doesn’t love watching their children react with raw joy when they open the Star Wars Lego set, or the newest game system, or (my personal favorite) the indoor basketball hoop? I found this new season of Christmases fun—but at a different and much more unselfish level.

Today we celebrate Christmas as near empty-nesters (one more left at home). Some of the boys have girlfriends now (one is engaged to be married). We’re in the middle of figuring out how this new season of Christmases will work. Competing schedules and family traditions, along with the associated emotions, are now in play.  Both of my parents are gone. Laura’s mom passed away seven years ago, but her dad is still with us. Funny… I still miss my parents this time of year, even though mom’s been dead for thirty-four years, and dad for eighteen. And I wonder about this new season of Christmases… will we’ll learn to enjoy it in a new way?  Can we adjust again? What will it look like?

One day in the future we’ll hopefully celebrate Christ’s birth while bouncing grandchildren on our knees. I imagine that season of Christmases will be awesome!

So whatever season you find yourself in… learn to appreciate what’s good about it. It’s ok to shed tears for loved ones who’ve died… for relationships lost. It’s normal to feel mixed emotions as you transition into a new season of Christmases. But try to remember that God sending His Son to earth is the unchangeable reality of Christmas. As long as Jesus rules your heart… you’ll have one constant throughout all of your life’s Christmas seasons. And He will help you adapt along the way.

Laura and I wish you joy and peace during this Christmas season!

P.S. – Check out my new book: Unshakable You: 5 Choices of Emotionally Healthy People at convergecoach.com/unshakable/