Christmas isn’t easy. For some students, going home is hard. For others, coming back is hard. Some face confusion, disappointment and fear. Christmas can reveal rifts in our relationships and patterns of pain.
The first Christmas wasn’t easy. There was no “I’ll be home for Christmas” or “Falalalala-lalalala.” There was confusion, disappointment, and fear. “Do not be afraid” is spoken three times in the Christmas narratives (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30, 2:10).
One of the decorative signs you see at Christmas is: BELIEVE. Some take this as a reminder to believe in “the Christmas magic” or in St. Nick. Actually, we need to believe the “good news of great joy” announced on the first Christmas: Christ the Saviour is born. Light now shines in the darkness. Hope now lives in the hearts of all who believe in His name (John 1:12).
Together, we send our Christmas greetings to all in the Heritage community. May you be given silent nights to renew your wonder of Christ. May you have the joy of telling the good news to others. May you BELIEVE He is able to do “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
Rick and Linda Reed 