I am sure Mary had a lot of fear as she and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem while heavy with child. How did she tamp down the anxiety? What did she do to make the travel not so scary? When did she realize the strength within her enabled the perseverance to keep going? Faced with so many uncertainties, how did she not become so worried that she gave up hope? Perhaps she focused on the gift of love she carried within instead of allowing the trials of the travel to overwhelm.
This time of year can bring joyous reunions and gladness to the heart for many, but for just as many this very season of Christmas brings sadness, loneliness, fear of spending holidays alone, heartache from lost loved ones, fractured families that don’t get along, or weariness from great sickness. If you know someone who will be wrestling with any of these or other feelings this Christmas reach out and share the gift of love, time, and light so he/she feels the strength within to rise above the fear. Give someone hope, a reason to trust, and make the light of Christ an action today.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.” Psalm 28:7